Iran's Zarif says 'no one trusts America' anymore

Iran's Zarif says 'no one trusts America' anymore
Zarif was speaking a day after Washington reimposed a first tranche of harsh sanctions following its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.
2 min read
08 August, 2018
Zarif was speaking a day after Washington reimposed a first tranche of harsh sanctions. [Getty]

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday it was hard to imagine new talks with the US after it lost the trust of the world with its erratic decision-making. 

"Imagine negotiating now - how can we trust them?" Zarif told reporters on state broadcaster IRINN. "America has zig-zagged constantly, so now no one trusts them."

Zarif was speaking a day after Washington reimposed a first tranche of harsh sanctions following its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal

President Donald Trump says he wants talks with Iran on a new deal covering the full range of its "malign behaviour" in the region, which has been dismissed by Iran. 

"There is a big difference this time," said Zarif.

"Before nobody supported Iran. But now, all the countries in the world are supporting Iran."

In an executive order on Monday, Trump said the sanctions seek to pile financial pressure on Tehran to force a "comprehensive and lasting solution" to Iranian threats, including its development of missiles and regional "malign" activities.

The impact of the return of sanctions has also ramped up political tensions inside Iran, which has seen days of protests and strikes in multiple towns and cities over water shortages, high prices and wider anger at the government.

Severe reporting restrictions have made it impossible to verify the swirl of claims coming through social media.

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