Iran’s foreign minister and lead negotiator in nuclear talks said that under the terms of the recently inked accord, the Islamic Republic is permitted to violate current embargoes on the shipment of arms and construction of missiles, according to recent comments made before Iran’s parliament.
Zarif, who spoke to the country’s parliament about the terms of the nuclear deal, also bragged that the finalization of the accord "puts the Zionist Regime in an irrecoverable danger," according to an independent translation of his Persian language remarks provided to the Washington Free Beacon.
Zarif insisted that "violating the arms and missiles embargo" placed on Iran by the United Nations "does not violate the nuclear agreement."
U.S. officials and analysts have become increasingly concerned about portions of the deal that will unilaterally lift current restrictions on Iran’s importation and exportation of weapons, as well as its missile construction programs.
While these restrictions still apply, they would be completely lifted in five to eight years under the agreement.
Zarif also took aim at Israel in his remarks, claiming that the deal has isolated Israel as it never has been before.
"Benjamin Netanyahu is ready to kill himself if it helps to stop this nuclear agreement because this agreement puts the Zionist regime in an irrecoverable danger," Zarif was reported as saying. "The abominable Zionist Regime has never been so isolated among its allies."
The recent approval of the deal by the United Nations Security Council has solidified Iran’s right to enrich and operate a nuclear program, Zarif went on to say.
"Our biggest accomplishment is that the U.N. Security Council has endorsed our enrichment, this has never happened in the last 70 years," Zarif said.
"Permit me not to mention the names, but many countries close to the U.S. have agreed to relinquish their enrichment rights, they all envy us today," he added.