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Zarif: Iran seeks to reduce regional tensions

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says that if and when a nuclear deal is finalized, Iran will focus on resolving regional issues before thinking about resuming diplomatic relations with the United States.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks at the New York University (NYU) Center on International Cooperation in New York April 29, 2015. Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday offered assurances that Tehran is committed to maintaining freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf in the aftermath of the seizure of a commercial ship by Iranian forces a day earlier. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson  - RTX1AUQZ

NEW YORK — Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran’s priority after reaching a nuclear agreement with six world powers would be improving tense relations with its regional neighbors to try to counter extremist threats and rising sectarianism, rather than in resuming diplomatic relations with the United States.

He also stressed that Washington’s implementation of a final nuclear deal would be as important to ensuring its success as Iran’s compliance.

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