Mohammad Marandi: US has been working against spirit of Iran nuclear deal

Press TV has conducted an interview with Mohammad Marandi, a professor with University of Tehran, remarks by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Washington’s violation of the nuclear agreement.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Talk to us more about recent comments made by Ayatollah Khamenei.

Marandi: I think that what he, Ayatollah Khamenei, said today is in line with what he was predicting a year ago. And he back then was skeptical about the US intention with regards to negotiations with Iran. His predictions have turned out to be correct. The United States has not negotiated in good faith at least up to this day in that they have been working against the spirit of the agreement. They have been encouraging companies not to work with Iran. They’ve gone actually further than that. They warned EU companies, banks and bankers as well as other key economic sectors and elements within those sectors not to get involved with Iranian companies and Iranian trade. And this is the state of affairs that we see right now.

Press TV: Professor Marandi this type of behavior from the United States the inconsistencies, reneging on its promises, will ultimately lead to the United States losing a lot of credibility in the eyes of the international community, doesn’t it?

Marandi: Yes, when even the Europeans are frustrated and angry that the United States is preventing insurance companies, tankers, bankers and others from dealing with Iran, then of course it’s clear how for example countries that are more independent like Russia, like China, feel about the attitude of the United States. So it will definitely hurt the United States and it will not hurt Iran in the sense that popular opinion in Iran is beginning to... believe that the United States has changed and all you have to do is begin talking with the United States and Americans will change their policies towards the country. I think that sector of Iranian society is beginning to recognize that this was a naive position to take and it probably will unify the country more with regards to American policy. And it will also, I think, show the international community that the trouble really from the beginning was the United States because after the negotiations Americans continue to show hostility as they did before the negotiations. And I think that is quite revealed.

Press TV: Ayatollah Khamenei also censured the United States for “promoting Iranophobia.” Give us your perspective on the US’s policy of Iranophobia and where it’s stemming from?

Marandi: I think Obama’s statement during the nuclear summit in Washington was quite revealing and he was basically saying that if Iran wants to be able to join the international networks for trade and enjoy the benefits of using the banking network and other networks and reintegrate, then Iran will have to change its behavior. In other words, Iran would have to start abiding by US demands. And this is of course ... and Obama was saying that if they want ... they will have to change. And this shows that the agreement between Iran and P5+1 really does not solve the problems. The United States signs an agreement on the one hand, but tries to prevent that agreement on the other hand in the real world. And we see that through the statements made by senior officials like Obama himself and also what the Americans are doing behind the scene. But I think ultimately, as I said before, while this does hurt the Iranian economy, I think it hurts Americans more, because it’s showing the Iranian population as well as the international community that the United States is simply irrational when it comes to dealing with Iran and attempts to move towards problem-solving are blocked by the United States.

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