US State Department Accuses Iran of Nuclear ‘Extortion’
Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the US State Department, responded on Wednesday, September 4, to statements by Mohammad Javad Zarif and accused Iranian government officials of resorting to nuclear “extortion.”
The State Department spokesperson wrote in a tweet in response to Iran’s foreign minister: After failing at maritime piracy, Iranian officials have resorted to extortion outright—give us $15 billion or we will advance our nuclear program further.
Morgan Ortagus added: This is very similar to Iran’s threats from two months ago. This is becoming a pattern.
The US State Department spokesperson’s remarks referred to Iran’s approach to reducing its commitments under the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA.
Earlier, Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, who had traveled to Paris to negotiate regarding “proposed proposals” linked to the atomic agreement, stated that “Iran’s return to full implementation of the JCPOA is conditional on receiving $15 billion for a four-month period.”
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister, accused the US government of “extortion” in a tweet on Wednesday and wrote that the United States has resorted to “multi-million dollar” proposals and threats to seize and confiscate Iran’s oil.
Mohammad Javad Zarif shared an image of a new Financial Times report with his tweet.
The London-based Financial Times reported on Wednesday that Brian Hook, the US government’s special representative on Iran affairs, personally sent an email to Kumar Akkayyil, the Indian-born captain of the oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, proposing that he direct the tanker toward waters where the US government could seize it.
Tensions between Iran and the United States have entered a new phase in recent months. The US withdrew from the nuclear agreement between six world powers and Iran last April and reinstated sanctions against the country.
The United States, which has imposed severe sanctions on Iran since its withdrawal from the JCPOA, has asked European parties not to provide economic incentives to Iran.
The US, which is pursuing a policy of maximum pressure on Iran to achieve a new missile, nuclear, and regional role agreement, says it will continue its pressure until Iran changes its behavior.
Source: Radio Farda
