FM Zarif dismisses rumors of his resignation

Speaking to reporters on the sideline of today’s cabinet session and when asked about reports about his resignation, he said “I wouldn’t have been here now if I had resigned.”

Earlier, some local media had reported that the minister has presented his resignation.

Zarif had once handed over his resignation in early March 2019, which was rejected by President Rouhani.

Omani Foreign Minister’s trip to Iran

Referring to the recent visit of the Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi to Iran, Zarif said that “the visit was made in the framework of periodical consultations with our neighbors; he [bin Alawi] had informed us weeks earlier that he would come to Iran for consultation.”

The Iranian minister went on to say that during the meeting with his Omani counterpart, they conferred on ‘regional issues, HOPE initiative, and bilateral ties’, also generally evaluating the discussions as ‘good’.

Zarif also said that Iran will host on Friday a delegation from Oman which will be ‘the biggest ever delegation in the history of Iran-Oman ties’.

EU’s failure to honor its commitments
A reporter asked Zarif about his recent tweet that addressed the European countries and the answer was “last week we saw adoption of a positive measure by Europeans and that was joining of six more countries in INSTEX and we saw an improper threat from the European side; what I consider important and necessary to tell Europeans is that we didn’t expect a pharmaceutical company of a country that claims to support JCPOA to avoid selling a rare medicine to Iran.” 

Zarif had tweeted on Monday that "Instead of arrogant threats or hollow paper promises, E3/EU—and future INSTEX shareholder Sweden—should start with something very simple; a minimal human duty: Ask @molnlyckehc to SELL products enabling Iranian kids with EB to cover their wounds. #EconomicTerrorism kills."

Messages from US
One reporter asked Zarif about Iranian President Hassan Rouahni’s remarks who had said that the US is sending private messages to Iran. “I have not heard this remark of the President but we are constantly receiving messages via Switzerland.”

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