TEHRAN – Iranian Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani said on Saturday that the U.S. double standard and “vague behavior” are the main reasons behind a slowdown in implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly called nuclear deal.

Shamkhani made the remarks during a meeting with New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Tehran.

According to the terms of the JCPOA, Iran must limit its nuclear activities and instead all economic and financial sanctions against Iran be lifted. Though the deal went into effect on January some financial restrictions still remain in place.

Shamkhani said despite efforts being made by Iran and the other signatories to the JCPOA to speed up implementation of the deal the U.S. is manifesting a vague behavior.

The top security official also said the nuclear deal can build trust between Iran and “non-hostile” countries.

He also said that there are good opportunities for Iran and New Zealand to expand cooperation in various spheres.

Elsewhere, Shamkhani described extremism and terrorism as “main threats” to international security and said an “international determination” is required to root out terrorism.

Adopting a “selective approach” is a “blight” to campaign on terrorism, the security official noted.

He said crisis in Syria can only be settled through inter-Syrians talks and there is no military solution to the conflict.

Shamkhani who served as defense chief from 1997 to 2005 also called on the international community to pay attention to the “war crimes” in Yemen.

For his part, McCully called Iran a “powerful” and “influential” country in the Middle East and called for expansion of ties in various areas.

He also highlighted the importance of fighting terrorism.

NA/PA