In a video message posted on YouTube on Thursday, Iran's foreign minister compared Tehran's full commitment to its side of the bargain, with Washington's breach of the nuclear deal, officially known as 'the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action' (JCPOA).
On 11 occasions, he said, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Iran has implemented all of its obligations under the JCPOA, but "the US has consistently violated the agreement especially by bullying other countries, preventing them from doing business with Iran."
Zarif also slammed the European countries' appeasement of US President Donald Trump, as a deadline looms for Washington to announce whether it will continue suspending anti-Iran sanctions that were lifted under the nuclear accord.
The Iranian foreign minister added: "In the last year or so, we've been told that President Trump is unhappy with the deal and it now appears that the response from some Europeans has been to offer the United States more concessions at our expense. This appeasement entails promises of a new deal that would include matters we all decided to exclude at the outset of our negotiations, including Iran's defensive capabilities and regional influence. But please understand on both issues, it is Iran, not the West, that has serious grievances and much to demand."
Referring to Iran's peaceful history, Zarif further noted that Iran has never invaded any country, but has been invaded by others, the most recent example of which was the 1980s invasion of Iran which was ordered by former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, who was supported by the United States and its allies.
"Despite that haunting experience, our defense spending is just a fraction of what countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates spend on defense; and our missiles have a shorter range than those of Saudi Arabia. And unlike US allies in the region who have brainwashed, financed and armed groups such as al-Qaeda, the Taliban and ISIS (or Daesh) terrorists, we have been pivotal in defeating these extremist groups in the region."
The top Iranian diplomat also stressed that Iran will not renegotiate the nuclear deal, adding that the country stands firm against bullying.
"We will neither outsource our security, nor will we renegotiate or add on to a deal we have already implemented in good faith," Zarif said.
"In the coming days the United States will have to decide whether to finally abide by its obligations. Iran stands firm in the face of futile attempts and bullying. But if the US continues to violate the agreement, or if it withdraws altogether, we will exercise our right to respond in a manner of our choosing."
The Iranian foreign minister further warned that threats would not lead to a new deal and advised the US to honour its commitments under the JCPOA.
"Bluster or threats won’t get the US a new deal, particularly as it has failed to honour the deal it has already made."
Zarif said, "Relying on cartoonish allegations, a rehash of old allegations which are more than a decade old, and have already been dealt with by the IAEA, to make a case for nixing the deal, has fooled no one."
"Thus, the US is well advised to finally start honouring its commitments or it, and only it, will have to bear responsibility for the consequences of not doing so."
