News / Politics

Iran’s FM Zarif compares US ‘disinfectant’ advice to Iran deal comments

Thursday, 14 May 2020 6:08 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 14 May 2020 6:10 PM ]

File photo shows US President Donald Trump speaking during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at his side. (Photo by AFP)

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the very US administration that has suggested use of “disinfectants” as a coronavirus cure is still behaving as if it is still a party to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that it has quit.

Tweeting on Thursday, Zarif referred to US President Donald Trump’s remarks during an April 23 briefing, where he theorized about the possible medical benefits of disinfectants in the fight against the virus, saying “you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs.”

Trump suggests injecting disinfectant to treat coronavirus

US President Trump has suggested that “disinfectant” be used to cure people infected with the coronavirus.

Zarif also reminded how the US administration left the nuclear agreement -- that the United Nations Security Council has endorsed through its Resolution 2231 -- in May 2018, with Trump calling the historic accord “the worst deal ever.”

The US administration, however, recently started speaking as if it was still a participant in the agreement.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington was resolved to extend an arms embargo against Iran that will expire under the nuclear agreement in October.

Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook also told reporters, “We are operating under the assumption that we will be able to renew the arms embargo.”

The top Iranian diplomat compared the attitudes in their inanity, saying, “Those who muse about injecting disinfectant to “clean” the coronavirus, also argue that they are a “participant” in a UN Security Council Resolution endorsing a deal that they long ago "ceased participating" in. Their own words.”

Those who muse about injecting disinfectant to “clean” the coronavirus, also argue that they are a “participant” in a UN Security Council Resolution endorsing a deal that they long ago "ceased participating" in. Their own words.

If only Kafka were around. pic.twitter.com/hYZ2z6EyKv
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) May 14, 2020

In similar remarks earlier on Thursday, Zarif said that making ”foolish” claims by US officials is nothing new.

Referring to Trump, Zarif said “it is not unexpected of those advising people to drink or inject disinfectants to fight the coronavirus to come forward and say they are still a party to the agreement after officially leaving it.”