Iran's foreign minister says US 'inhumane' over travel restrictions in New York
Iran's top diplomat is upset that the US granted him a visa to visit New York but only allowed him to move within six buildings.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Photo:Reuters. |
"This is certainly not a friendly act. It puts diplomatic staff who are carrying out their duties and their families in a condition that is basically inhumane. But for me, this is still very good because I have nothing else to do but move around in three buildings," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters on July 17 ahead of a meeting at the United Nations headquarters.
Zarif reiterated that the US is waging an economic war against Iran and targeting its civilians. Asked how tensions between Washington and Tehran could be eased, Zarif said US sanctions must stop. "Once they stop, other things can continue."
The Iranian diplomat said he had not been in contact with anyone in the US government while in New York, and questioned the efforts of the UK, France and Germany to save the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).
Zarif and his Iranian delegation are in New York this week for a ministerial meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, which will discuss sustainable development goals on a range of issues, including conflict, poverty, gender equality and climate change. The Iranian foreign minister’s visa was issued at the US Embassy in Bern, Switzerland, a day before he arrived in the US.
Under an agreement with the United Nations, the United States has agreed to issue expedited visas to all foreign diplomats traveling to New York, where the organization is headquartered, to attend official events.
"American diplomats don't wander around Tehran, so we don't think the Iranian delegation has any reason to move freely in New York. We're giving Foreign Minister Zarif and his delegation all the rights they're entitled to under the UN agreement, but nothing more," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo explained about the travel restrictions on the Iranian delegation.
Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated since President Donald Trump last year withdrew from the JCPOA, a deal signed between Iran and six world powers in 2015, and imposed sanctions on Iran. Tehran responded by exceeding the limits on its uranium stockpile and enrichment that it had agreed to in the deal.
Trump and Pompeo have both said they are willing to negotiate with Tehran without preconditions. However, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on July 14 that they would only agree to talks if the US lifted sanctions and returned to the JCPOA.