Zarif scoffs at 'Netanyahu's uproar' over Iran nuclear deal

Iranian leaders hail nuclear deal; Rouhani says Iran will no longer be viewed as an international threat; UN likely to vote on Iran nuclear deal next week, diplomats say.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS
Updated: JULY 15, 2015 14:57
Zarif scoffs at 'Netanyahu's uproar' over Iran nuclear deal
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived back in Tehran on Wednesday a day after reaching a nuclear deal with six world powers in Vienna.
"Today the negotiations have ended with the Security Council approving a resolution that for the first time in its history will officially recognize the nuclear power of a developing country. And this is a complete U-turn," Zarif said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been vocal in his opposition to the deal, a fact that was not lost on Zarif.
"Today we are witnessing Netanyahu's uproar on all television channels and in newspapers, and we have heard that the fact that the nation of Iran have made their rights official with perseverance, removed the sanctions upon them and also prevented a false crises, has made him very uneasy."
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told a cabinet meeting broadcast on state television Wednesday that the nuclear deal is a political victory, adding that the agreement meant Tehran would no longer be regarded as an international threat.
"No one can say Iran surrendered," Rouhani said. "The deal is a legal, technical and political victory for Iran. It's an achievement that Iran won't be called a world threat any more."
Iran and six world powers reached a deal on Tuesday, capping more than a decade of negotiations with an agreement that could transform the Middle East.
Under the deal, sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and the United Nations will be lifted in return for Iran agreeing to long-term curbs on a nuclear program that the West has suspected was aimed at creating a nuclear bomb.
"No deal is perfect. There should be always compromise," Rouhani said in his remarks to cabinet ministers.
"It was really difficult to preserve some of our red lines. There was a time we doubted there could be a deal. It's a historic deal and Iranians will be proud of it for generations to come."
Among Iran's main conditions, or "red lines," at the talks were a refusal to accept a long freeze on nuclear research and development and a demand for a rapid lifting of sanctions.
 The United Nations Security Council is likely to vote next week on a resolution to endorse the Iran nuclear deal and terminate targeted sanctions, but retain an arms embargo and ballistic missile technology ban, diplomats said.
The United States will circulate the draft resolution to the 15-member Security Council on Wednesday, UN diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Under the agreement, any United Nations sanctions relief would be simultaneous with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verifying "implementation of agreed nuclear-related measures by Iran."
"Next week the UNSC will recognize the enrichment program of a developing country," Zarif said.
"Our measures will start when all sanctions are lifted. We hope that more or less within four months measures taken by both sides show results and implementation of the deal begins."
The UN Security Council resolution would terminate its seven previous resolutions on Iran, but under the Vienna deal it would leave a UN weapons embargo in place for five years and a ban on buying missile technology for eight years.


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