Iran’s FM Calls for National Unity to Achieve Goals
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian foreign minister described national unity and rapport as the key factors that can make it easier for the country to accomplish its goals, particularly in foreign policy arena.
“In the sphere of foreign policy, we should put aside the disputes and replace them with rapport and friendship, because we are all aboard a single ship, if we are to succeed, we will succeed all together, and if we (are to) suffer harm, we will also suffer harm together,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an address to a gathering of students at the University of Tehran on Tuesday.
Describing “public support” for the authorities as an decisive factor in the country’s success in its foreign policy, Zarif said reaching a final agreement over the nuclear program requires internal consensus.
The Islamic Republic and the G5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) signed a six-month deal on Tehran’s nuclear program after three rounds of intensive talks in the Swiss city of Geneva on November 24.
The deal is intended to allow time to negotiate a comprehensive agreement on the nuclear program.
The Geneva deal is only one step, and reaching the final stage requires consensus inside the country, the foreign minister added.
He also warned that the enemies seek to “sap the strategic capabilities” of Iran by resorting to diverse tactics, including unilateral sanctions and discouraging others from investing in or doing business with Iran.
“Some are pushing to impose sanctions on Iran, and take other measures as well, but we should not underestimate our own abilities,” Zarif said.
The recent deal struck between Tehran and the world powers aimed to bring a decade-long standoff over Iran’s nuclear program to an end.
In exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities and allow more inspection of its nuclear facilities, the six world powers have agreed to impose no new sanctions on Iran and to suspend some existing ones on its trade in petrochemicals, automobiles, gold and precious metals, civil aviation parts, and food and medicine. They will also let Tehran receive a small portion of its frozen assets while a permanent agreement is sought.
