Iranian FM says Trump, Netanyahu and Bin Salman isolated, not Iran

“The whole world is talking about Netanyahu, Trump and Bin Salman’s isolation, not Iran’s,” Zarif claimed. 

By: World Israel News Staff and AP

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are facing global isolation and that they have become the “symbols of distrust due to their violence, crackdowns and injustice.”

Iran is not isolated and Europe stands by it, he added.

“Today the whole world has announced that it is opposed to US policies against Iran,” Zarif stated, according to ISNA news. “The US bullying and political pressures can lead to some problems, but the fact is that the US is an isolated state in today’s world.”

He made his remarks after the European Union (EU) announced that new measures are ready to take effect in order to protect European businesses from the impact of US sanctions on Iran, which will partially take effect on Monday. They target Iran’s automotive sector as well as gold and other metals.

The measures are aimed at saving an agreement that is supposed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions after the US abandoned the pact in May. The EU says the pact is important for global security and that it is trying to keep economic and financial supply lines to Tehran open.

The EU’s Executive Commission said Monday that the so-called “blocking statute” will take effect beginning at midnight.

The mechanism stops European companies from complying with the US sanctions unless they have authorization from the Commission.

It also blocks the effects of US court actions in Europe and allows European firms to recover damages arising from the sanctions from anyone who causes them.

“The whole world is talking about Netanyahu, Trump and Bin Salman’s isolation, not Iran’s,” Zarif claimed. “The three have become the symbols of distrust due to their violence, crackdowns and injustice.”

He pointed to “the state which arrests another state’s prime minister,” namely Saudi Arabia; “the president who violates international agreements such as NAFTA and Paris,” in reference to Trump; and “the one who has repeatedly abused the rights of Palestinians,” Israel.

“The three are isolated in the world because of such actions and their Iranophobia policy. They have money and they can put Iranian people under pressure by their strategies and we should reduce the pressure, but they are isolated.”

US, Israel and Saudis create ‘mental inflammation’

“The US is waging the propaganda that it is in touch with Iran’s people and Netanyahu writes tweets and sheds crocodile tears every day. You claim that you have connection with Iranian people but the first sanction that you reimposed against Iran was related to airplane sales, airplanes that would have been used in favor of Iranian people,” Zarif charged, according to ISNA news agency.

He added that “the important thing for us is to be realistic about facts and to act with awareness. The major goal of the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia is to create mental inflammation.”

European foreign ministers said they “deeply regret” the reimposition of US sanctions on Iran.

A statement Monday by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK insisted that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal “is working and delivering on its goal” of limiting Iran’s nuclear program.

The European ministers said the Iran deal is “crucial for the security of Europe, the region and the entire world.”