National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said earlier this month that “the United States and Iran are not close” to an agreement and that “there are still gaps in the question of sanctions"
Kerry strenuously denied the new claim by Zarif that the supposed conversation about Israeli strikes in Syria never happened. Zarif has offered no further clarification
Audio of Zarif giving an interview in which he slammed Soleimani and appeared to suggest the IRGC had undermined him has led to controversy.
"The Zionists want to take revenge because of our progress in the way to lift sanctions... We will not fall into their trap...We will not allow this act of sabotage to affect the nuclear talks."
The foreign minister’s comments on Monday morning appear to be building to a crescendo that could indicate Iran intends to retaliate.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said promoting “civilizational, historical and cultural” affinities with Central Asian states has been among Iran’s priorities.
In the wide-ranging discussion Zarif argued that power is shifting in the world from the West to Asia.
For years, Turkey would say one thing to Moscow and Tehran while telling Washington’s Iran hawks that Turkey was “against Russia and Iran.”
"All our steps (to breach the deal) are reversible...The move on Feb. 23 is not abandoning the deal," Zarif said in a televised interview with Iran's English Language Press TV.
In a Monday night interview with CNN, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif made his latest shift.
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