Tehran, April 5, IRNA � Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has criticized US for releasing a fact sheet contrary to the joint statement issued after Iran-P5+1 nuclear talks and stressed all sanctions related to Tehran's nuclear program will be �terminated not suspended.'




The fact sheet released by Washington is different from the joint statement, Zarif said in a televised interview.

He stressed that sanctions will be lifted immediately if a final deal is agreed.

Noting that the joint statement is not legally binding and is just a draft, Zarif said no final agreement has been made yet.

After eight days of intensive and tough negotiations, Iran and members of the Group 5+1 (US, Britain, Russia, France and China plus Germany) issued a joint statement in Lausanne on April 2. The statement laid the ground for them to start drafting the final nuclear agreement which is expected June 30.

�The Americans put what they wanted in the fact sheet for their own use at home, Zarif said adding, �I officially protested to [US Secretary of State John] Kerry for the statement of positions countering the Lausanne statement. The EU representative has also protested to [US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy] Sherman why they have spoken contrary to their positions.�

He noted, �Either side in this agreement can, in the case of the other side violating the agreement, cease its own steps.�

�Whatever work we have on the nuclear program can be restored � Our knowledge is local and no one can take that away from us,� he added.

He pointed to the changes in the demands of the P5+1 countries as evidence of the success of negotiations that began two years ago.

�They realized they can�t shut down Iran�s nuclear program.�

Stressing that Iran would keep its promises as long as the West also did so, Zarif suggested a deal could open the door to more productive relations with the international community.

�We don�t want anything more than our rights. We�ve never pursued a bomb in the past or now. We�re also not looking for regional hegemony. We want good relations with our neighbors in the region.�

The US fact sheet described its contents as �the key parameters� of a final deal to be agreed by 30 June. It said key details were subject to further negotiation, adding that �nothing is agreed until everything is agreed�.

The Iranian minister stressed, based on the joint statement, Iran would continue its enrichment program with five thousand centrifuges in the Natanz nuclear facility and a thousand centrifuges will also be in Fordow.


By IRNA