Former Negotiator Raps US Double-Standard Policy towards Iran


Former Negotiator Raps US Double-Standard Policy towards Iran

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A former Iranian negotiator criticized the US for its double-standard policies towards the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In an interview with Foreign Policy magazine, Hossein Mousavian, spokesman for Iran's nuclear negotiating team from 2003 to 2005, censured Washington for imposing new round of sanctions on Tehran and at the same time expressing preparedness to launch direct talks with the Islamic Republic.

"The big question in Tehran right now is, ‘Who is making decisions in Washington?' and there is a lot of suspicion and doubt about whether the US government has any power of its own, or not. Washington always blamed Iran, saying ‘We don't know who makes the decisions in Iran, therefore we don't know with whom to negotiate,'" he said.

"Tehran can also blame the US, for it's not clear who makes the decisions in Washington. Is Mr. Obama's nuclear negotiation team the decision-maker? Why would a team that has no control over the sanctions come to the negotiation table? How can Obama reach a deal with Iran, if he wants to fundamentally challenge Iran?"

Washington and its western allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program, while they have never presented any corroborative evidence to substantiate their allegations. Iran denies the charges and insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

On July 31, the US House approved a bill to impose tougher sanctions on Iran’s oil exports and other economic sectors. The bill, which must be approved by the Senate and signed by Obama to become law, seeks to cut Iran's oil exports by one million barrels per day over a year.

 

 

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