FM Spokesman: Zarifs proposal proves US not serious about negotiation

The proposal by Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif proved that the US officials are not serious when they speak of negotiations, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Referring to Zarif's suggestion on ratification of the additional protocol in exchange for the permanent suspension of all US sanctions, Abbas Mousavi said that the foreign minister proposed it to Washington to try if it seriously wants to take a step forward.

When in New York to participate in a UN meeting, Zarif told the American television PBS that "There is a provision in the current agreement that is, in 2023, we're supposed to ratify the additional protocol, which requires us to put all our facilities under UN inspections for life. That would be permanent. And it would also require the United States to lift its sanctions by Congress permanently. That is a provision that we already negotiated."

Zarif added that the President can implement that provision right now, and rest assured that Iran would never produce nuclear weapons.

The proposal was rejected by the US government, Mousavi said, adding that the opposition to such a plan was predicted as "they have never been seeking any talk or agreement that leads to a right result".