US State Department accuses Iran of nuclear "blackmail"
On Wednesday, September 4, US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus reacted to Mohammad Javad Zarif's statements and accused Iranian government officials of nuclear "blackmail."
A Foreign Ministry spokesman tweeted in response to the Iranian Foreign Minister: “After failing in the maritime piracy, Iranian officials have openly resorted to blackmail – give us $15 billion or we will further nuclear development.”
Morgan Ortagus added: "This is very similar to the threats from Iran two months ago. This is becoming a pattern."
The US State Department spokesperson is referring to Iran's approach to reducing its commitments within the framework of the nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Previously, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had gone to Paris to negotiate "proposed proposals" in connection with the nuclear agreement, had said that "returning to full implementation of the JCPOA is conditional on receiving $15 billion for a four-month period."
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the US government of "blackmail" in a tweet on Wednesday, writing that the United States had resorted to "multi-million dollar" offers and threats to seize and confiscate Iranian oil.
Mohammad Javad Zarif posted a screenshot of a new report from the Financial Times along with his tweet.
The Financial Times, published in London, wrote in a report published on Wednesday that Brian Hook, the US government's special representative for Iran, personally sent an email to Kumar Akhilesh, the Indian-origin captain of the Adrian Darya 1 tanker, suggesting that he steer the tanker towards the waters of a country where the US government could seize it.
Tensions between Iran and the United States have reached a new high in recent months. The United States withdrew from the six-power nuclear deal with Iran in May of last year and reimposed sanctions on the country.
The United States, which has imposed severe sanctions on Iran since withdrawing from the JCPOA, has called on European parties not to provide economic incentives to Iran.
The United States, which is pursuing a policy of maximum pressure on Iran to achieve a new missile and nuclear agreement and define Tehran's role in the region, says it will continue its pressure until Iran changes its behavior.
Source: Radio Farda
