Zarif after deal: 'The world has changed'
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke about balcony diplomacy, regional cooperation and why Israel sees the agreement as an "existential threat."
VIENNA — On the famous balcony in Palais Coburg, Al-Monitor spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif a few hours after he, along with EU special representative Federica Mogherini, had announced the historic deal concluding a 13-year standoff over Iran’s nuclear program. The interview was conducted a few minutes before Zarif boarded a plane for home.
Al-Monitor: It seems "balcony diplomacy" helped in achieving this deal.
Zarif: Well, balcony diplomacy wasn’t intended to be diplomacy itself. [It] was intended to provide me with … some fresh air, but it gave me the opportunity to interact with Iranian journalists as well as other journalists who were waiting downstairs for any news. I’m sorry that it was so harsh on the journalists because the negotiations were going on behind closed doors for so many days and so many long hours.
Al-Monitor: Was it really worth it, the 18 days of talks?
