Javad Karimi Ghoddousi, outspoken and famous for his criticism of JCPOA was in the forefront, criticizing Zarif’s conduct in JCPOA. He believed Zarif and his entourage in the Foreign Ministry had changed the major line of policy in the Middle East, to which Zarif responded by asserting that foreign policy of the coutnry is set accroding to Revolutionary principles and that the whole ministry, and not only one person, follow this policy. Karimi Ghoddousi then objected that former deputy-FM for Arab and African affaris Hossein Amir-Abdollahian had been replaced by another figure, while he was staunch advocate of the Resistance front in the ministry and advanced the cause. Zarif told him that Mr. Abdollahian’s case had only been due to his personal problems as he was supposed to be appointed as ambassador to Oman and that the ministry hailed and pursued Resistance as an honor to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Ghoddousi raised also the issue of the Holocaust Conference where Foreign Ministry failed to attend by a representative; Zarif’s response was that the ministry believed that such conferences would only help the Zionist regime in promoting its status as somebody victim of the historical injustice and cruelty in the World War II. “A non-governmental organization held the conference on Holocaust and the ministry had announced that it would not participate in such a conference which would only serve Zionism in advancing its cause,” he told Parliament.
On case of the unrealistic reports about JCPOA implementation, Zarif said that all reports had been based on real outcomes; “the JCPOA has succeeded in securing nation’s nuclear rights; it had the Security Council recognize this right as well; the reality of JCPOA and its implementation had been frequently communicated to the Parliament and the public; the achievements should be spoken aloud that our oil exports had returned to that before sanctions; that financial restrictions had been lifted for Iran; these are real outcomes and no one should fear speaking aloud about them,” he emphasized.
Zarif believed however that some sabotage had been still on place by the US and that its secretary of state should be held accountable since he should provide explanations every day about the US conduct; “I believe JCPOA was a success in achieving our objectives of securing operation of Natanz, Arak, and Fordow nuclear centers; it restored our national dignity; Foreign Ministry’s general policies are also endorsed by JCPOA Supervisory Body which has as its members some SNSC members, to which I am also a member,” he concluded.
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