Kazakhstan Not Enforcing US Unilateral Sanctions Against Iran

Tehran, Feb 7, IRNA – Kazakhstan which is the host of the next round of talks between Iran and the G5+1 is not enforcing US unilateral sanctions against Tehran, a senior Foreign Ministry officials said Wednesday. Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs Abbas Araqchi, made the remarks while commenting on the reason behind choosing Kazakhstan as the host of the upcoming talks between Iran and G5+1 which is to be held on February 26. “There is a difference between sanctions imposed on Iran by the United Nations Security Council and those which were unilaterally imposed on the country by the US,” Araqchi told reporters. He added, “All nations are bound to implement the UNSC’s sanctions while US forces other nations to enforce its unilateral sanctions against other countries. “And we have previously said that any country which voluntarily implements US unilateral sanctions against Iran would no longer be considered as a neutral state. Kazakhstan is among those countries that has not enforced US unilateral sanctions.” Commenting on reports about an increase in the number of centrifuges in Iran’s enrichment facilities, Araqchi said, “Iran’s technical progresses will continue in all fields, including its peaceful nuclear activities,” Reiterating the continuous trend of Iran’s progress, the diplomat said that as for the centrifuges “this is a question which should be asked from officials of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.”/end