Zarif says Iran expects Japan to prevent 'illegal' US move to block its access to overseas funds

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called on Japan and other countries to stand up to US efforts to block Iran's access to its overseas funds needed to buy medicine and foodstuff for the Iranian people amid the coronavirus pandemic.   

The top Iranian diplomat said during a telephone conversation with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi on Wednesday that the illegal US sanctions prohibiting Iran from using its funds in other countries, including Japan, to buy medicine and foodstuff for the Iranian people amounted to a crime against humanity.

He called on the Japanese government and other countries to counter the US move.

"We expect the Japanese government to prevent this illegal US action within the framework of the general commitment of countries to implement Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2231," Zarif said.

UNSC Resolution 2231 endorses a 2015 historic multilateral nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).   

Since pulling out the JCPOA in 2018, the US has been piling up pressure on Iran through reinstating of the sanctions that had been lifted under the agreement and imposing new sanctions.

Washington has been threatening even its allies to follow suit in cutting their trade with Iran, or face secondary sanctions.

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Iran says the US needs to block its frozen assets in other countries so that Tehran can buy food and medicine for its people.

Back in June, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran Abdolnaser Hemmati said Korean banks were preventing Iran from using billions of dollars of its oil money to buy foods and medicines which the US alleges are exempt from its sanctions.

Although the US claims that foodstuff and medicines have been exempt from the draconian bans, the sanctions have, in fact, prevented Iran from buying basic need through blocking Iran's access to its overseas money and targeting its banking transactions.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Zarif pointed to recent developments surrounding the Iran nuclear deal and called on all parties to live up to their commitments under the agreement to keep the JCPOA alive.  

"It is very important that we make every effort to ensure that the other parties fulfill their obligations under this agreement," he said.

He highlighted the active and constructive role of the Islamic Republic of Iran in establishing peace and stability in the region and said, "The presence of foreign forces not only fails to help the region, but also complicates and aggravates the problems." 

He also congratulated Yoshihide Suga on his election as prime minister and the re-appointment of Motegi as foreign minister, and expressed hope that the previous policy of the country in contributing to stability in the region would continue under Japan's new leadership as well.

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Zarif also thanked Japan for its support for Iran in the fight against coronavirus and expressed hope the two countries would further expand bilateral relations.

The Japanese foreign minister, for his part, thanked Zarif for his congratulatory messages and emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in the fight against coronavirus.

"Japan has always supported and continues to support the JCPOA," Motegi said, stressing that Japan's position has not changed in its efforts to contribute to stability in the Middle East.  

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