Iran’s Zarif denies nuclear weapons ambition, criticizes "Iranophobic" agenda

Iran’s Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated Iran's commitment to not developing nuclear weapons during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria at the World Economic Forum in Davos. 

He emphasized that if Iran intended to pursue nuclear capabilities, it would have done so long ago, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

Zarif criticized the portrayal of Iran as a security threat, linking it to an "Iranophobic" agenda that justifies actions like the violence in Gaza. He pointed to the US withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, as a key factor that has allowed Iran to enhance its nuclear capabilities.

Furthermore, Zarif urged former President Donald Trump to adopt a more serious and realistic approach regarding the nuclear agreement, noting Trump’s admission that he was pressured to leave the JCPOA for the sake of Israel.

In response to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Zarif stated that Iran was unaware of the operation and expressed shock at the events. He also denied claims that Iran directs the actions of the "axis of resistance," asserting that resistance will continue as long as Israeli occupation persists.

Starting in 2006, the UN Security Council implemented several rounds of sanctions aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program. In 2015, many of these economic sanctions were lifted under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal. 

After then-President Trump exited the 2015 agreement, he reimposed strict sanctions on Iran, leading Tehran to breach the deal by ramping up its uranium enrichment activities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev