"In the past Iran was sanctioned over false claims that it sought nuclear weapons. Now, sanctions must be re-imposed because we seek no nukes?" Zarif said.
U.S. moral bankruptcy on full display in CIA chief's admission of U.S. policy: in the past Iran was sanctioned over false claims that it sought nuclear weapons. Now, sanctions must be reimposed because we seek no nukes? pic.twitter.com/Thy8y5OGN1
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) April 13, 2018
At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, US President Donald Trump's pick to become Washington's top diplomat played down fears that he might advocate withdrawing from the landmark nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015.
Pompeo said he would continue working with US European allies to try to strengthen and "fix" the agreement.
The US president on January 12 reluctantly agreed to waive sanctions against Iran that were lifted as part of the landmark deal, but threatened to withdraw from the accord if some "disastrous flaws" were not fixed.
Trump is a stern critic of the nuclear deal agreed between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, France, Britain, China, Russia - and Germany. Under the agreement, nuclear-related sanctions put in place against Iran were lifted in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear program.
He said he wanted America's European allies to use the 120-day period before sanctions relief again came up for renewal to agree to tougher measures and new conditions, otherwise Washington would pull out of the deal.
Despite Trump's charges that Tehran has violated the "spirit" of the agreement, Pompeo said he has "seen no evidence that they are not in compliance today."
Iran's nuclear chief said on Sunday it would be humiliating for Europe to follow suit with the US policy on the JCPOA.