Minister Zarif, they demand that the Europeans need to do more to get the nuclear deal. There are now Instex, those should allow financial mechanism of the European companies trading with Iran. What, you ask?
As the United States withdrew from the nuclear agreement, the other States a number of obligations, which were twelve points. This financial mechanism is not one of them, he is only a prerequisite for the implementation of the promises. In the nuclear deal and the normalization of economic relations is provided. A barter-based System, such as Instex is no normalization – rather the opposite.

But the only way.
We are willing to live with it, because we don’t want to require partners in Europe to a lot of. But Instex is not first, still in operation, and, secondly, the construction took nine months. And thirdly, money needs to be in there – money will only be in there if there is trade, oil deals, investment in Iran. This is what is needed.

Can you quantify that? The Oil exports of Iran decreased from 2.5 million barrels per day to slightly more than a Million. The is enough?
no, it’s not, this is less than we would have sold before the nuclear agreement, when there were UN sanctions. But now the United States with all the Power of pressure, and all the wrinkles in front of it. European firms have left the Iran. Beautiful words are not enough.

How long will stay in your country under these conditions nor in the agreement?
it depends on The will of the people. There was a vocal minority that was against the agreement. But if the people are still angry, it might soon be a majority. Yet 51 percent of the people support according to a survey that we stay in the agreement. But we can’t govern against the will of the people.

Many Iranians, making the government responsible for 40 years of mismanagement, even if you say that the sanctions will contribute to this.
Last year, we had 8 percent growth, in spite of 40 years of mismanagement. Why are we now in the descent? Because of the sanctions! Otherwise, nothing has changed. Mismanagement and structural problems of the economy in Iran are nothing New.

The exemptions of the US for Oil purchases in Iran will run out in may. If they are not renewed, this is the end of the agreement?
I do not believe that these permits were granted out of consideration for Iran or the agreement, but because of the US assessment of the oil Market. On concerns of the Europeans, the United States will take no account of the, you call, you Yes to exit. The international community must decide whether it is in their interest to let the United States to their illegal dictation. The Europeans need to ask themselves: If you allow this precedent, what will you do if the United States is calling for an end to the trade with China?

“Iran is not very stable, because we rely on external forces.”

imposed by the USA sanctions, has told the Iranian government that it would be unrealistic, and Iran from the Oil market to exclude,because the capacities were lacking.This is no different from now, when Iran exported only a Million barrels?
This is still so. But if all of our customers should decide to bow to pressure from the us, we have other means.

What is it?
I’m not going to say. Trump loves the Element of Surprise, so we will entertain him.

But there are enough business partners outside of Europe?
Currently, the whole of our business outside of Europe. Europe currently buys no Oil from us, it is the sanctions of duty fulfilled schuldigst.

you have described the crisis in Iran because of the sanctions. How stable is the country?
Iran is not very stable, because we rely on external forces. Our stability comes from the Inside. But the people are suffering. Hardly an expert has expected so many people to 40. Anniversary of the Revolution would go on the streets. You would have been able to take a vacation, but you have shown your support.

According to the foreign Minister, Zarif, an overwhelming majority of the Iranian population supports the course of the government. Photo: Keystone

But there are always protests and demands, the government should not spend the money in Syria, but at home, in order to improve the living conditions.
There is a part of our population that does not agree with our foreign policy, you can get on the road or in newspaper articles. But a survey – and have not we, but the University of Maryland shows that the overwhelming majority believes our policy in Syria and in the Region is to our national security is essential.

The official justification for Iran’s presence in Syria is the fight against terrorism, and that the Syrian government has issued such an invitation . . .
. . . this is not the official justification, which is the only reason.

The fight against terrorism comes to an end . . .
. . . no, he does not. Idlib is for the most part, the Nusra Front occupied, in the surroundings of Deir al-Zor, there are still terrorists of the Islamic state, even in Iraq. The terrorists have set up a different face, you went home and are waiting for an opportune Moment to come out. We need to be careful. If you don’t need us any more, this will be the end of our presence.

you were recently in Sochi for discussions with Russia and Turkey on the situation in Syria. Has become a military action in Idlib inevitable?
We are moving in this direction. We never wanted to be a military action, but have worked hard to avoid it, because we know that every military action in Idlib is a Disaster. But other procedures have failed, and more than ever before, are today controlled by Nusra.

There are military incidents on the Golan heights and an increasingly violent exchange of blows between Israel’s armed forces and Iranian units in Syria. You see the danger that this will result in a war?
There’s adventurism on the part of Israel, and adventurism is always dangerous. We are in Syria at the invitation of the government. Israel violated Lebanese and Syrian airspace, as well as international law. If something is a cause for concern, then Israel’s behavior.

you will See a direct military confrontation with Israel up?
I don’t, but we can not exclude the possibility of exclusive.

there Are red lines, which Violation would have a massive reaction in your country?
We will protect our staff.

Is the Status quo on the Golan acceptable?
no, he is not. But that is not our affair, but a Syrian. We don’t tell our friends, how their foreign policy should look like.

Would you support to change the Status quo there?
We can’t talk about hypothetical questions, without the Syrian government has decided what it wants to do. Our presence in Syria is the war on terror. Point.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 21.02.2019, 19:15 PM