‘I hope Trump will be more serious, more focused, more realistic,' says Iran's Vice President for Strategic Affairs Javad Zarif
Iran expressed hope on Wednesday for reaching a new nuclear agreement with US President Donald Trump.
This came during the participation of Iran's Vice President for Strategic Affairs Javad Zarif at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
When asked if Iran believes the US might agree to a new deal, Zarif said, “I hope that this time around, a ‘Trump 2' will be more serious, more focused, more realistic.”
“We didn't know about October 7. Actually we were supposed to have a meeting with the Americans on JCPOA renewal on October 9, which was undermined and destroyed by this operation,” he added.
“Right now as you look at Gaza… Netanyahu did not achieve his goal of destroying Hamas, Hamas is still there. Israel had to come to a ceasefire,” Zarif said.
“I wouldn't suggest anybody start rejoicing over destroying Hamas as well as the Palestinian resistance, or cutting Iran's arms, because the resistance will stay as long as they're occupied.”
In 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran during his first term in office and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran.
The Davos forum serves as a platform for fostering diplomatic and business relationships among global leaders.
This year's edition is attended by over 3,000 participants from 130 countries, including 60 heads of state and government.
Following criticism from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding its nuclear activities, Iran announced on Nov. 29 plans to operate thousands of new centrifuges to enrich uranium.
Currently, Iran is enriching uranium to 60% purity – a level significantly below the 90% required for nuclear weapons but far exceeding the limits of the original nuclear deal.
Israeli officials have repeatedly threatened to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.
