Iran says US sanctions violate nuclear agreement

NEW YORK — Iran’s foreign minister says his government has received “contradictory signals” from the Trump administration and doesn’t know how to interpret them, but he holds open the possibility of talks and improved relations with the United States.

In a wide-ranging session at the Council on Foreign Relations, Mohammad Javad Zarif says he hasn’t communicated with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. But he says “it doesn’t mean that there can’t be (communication), because the possibilities for engagement with regard to the nuclear deal has always been open.”

Zarif says the International Atomic Energy Agency, “which is hardly a sympathizer for Iran,” has verified its compliance with the nuclear deal.

But unfortunately, he says, the US has not complied, and the six parties to the agreement will be meeting in Vienna on Friday to examine Iran’s complaints about the purported US failure to carry out its obligations.

The key issue with the United States, he says, is over sanctions against Iran that the agreement requires to be lifted and the sanctions that remain on Iran over human rights, terrorism and other issues.

— AP