TEHRAN – Fresh from an endorsement by the Majlis Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that one of his foreign policy priorities will be to protect the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

In approving the proposed ministers on Sunday, Zarif succeeded to win 236 votes out of 288 ballots for the post of foreign minister for another four years.
  
“As we have said before, we should not let the U.S. violate the JCPOA at the expense of Iran,” Zarif said in a televised interview.

He said that the nuclear deal was drafted based on “distrust” and mechanisms to prevent violation of it have been considered.

He added the U.S. can be successful in its wrong policies toward the JCPOA only if it portrays Iran as a side which breaches its commitments.

Iran can be successful by remaining committed to its obligation under the international treaty.

“We should prove to the international community that we are trustable and Iran abides by its commitments and it is the U.S. which violates its commitments,” the chief diplomat noted.

“The new U.S. administration should become aware of the fact that wrong policies will not lead to ‘right results’.”

Zarif added the JCPOA is an international agreement and the U.S. cannot unilaterally pull out of it.

Iran, the European Union, Germany and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia - finalized the text of the nuclear agreement on July 14, 2015. The deal went into effect on January 16, 2016.

 ‘Increasing ties with neighbors is another priority’

Elsewhere in his televised interview, Zarif said strengthening ties with neighbors is another foreign policy priority.

He also said Iran is located in a volatile region in which “wrong policies” and “foreign interferences” have led to spread of extremism and terrorism.

Iran is the only country in the region which relies on its people to maintain its security and made progress, the foreign minister remarked.

Elsewhere, he attached importance to foreign investment to help increase opportunities for employment.

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