US Administration Responsible for Implementation of Possible Final Agreement

(FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif dismissed the rift between the US congress and administration over a possible deal with Iran as a domestic issue, stressing that in case Tehran and the six world powers strike a final agreement, his country will recognize the White House as to be responsible for implementing America's undertakings.

Zarif's remarks came in reaction to a US senate legislation which was passed on Thursday and enables the US Congress to review and potentially reject a pending nuclear deal with Iran.

"We believe that the US congress bill and the Senate approval will not decrease the US administration's commitments, rather it will make the administration's commitment heavier because we consider the US government responsible for implementing the agreements," the Iranian foreign minister said in a joint press conference with his South African counterpart Maite Nkoana-Mashabane in Tehran on Monday.

He noted that the only outcome of the senate approval will be a delay in the implementation of a possible final agreement, and said, "As (Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas) Araqchi has stated the senate's approval will result in a maximum two-month delay."

Yet, he underlined that the US administration is duty-bound, according to the international law, to defuse any other possible impacts that the approval could have on a final deal with Iran.

Zarif, who is Iran's lead nuclear negotiator, said in case a final nuclear deal is struck between Iran and the six world powers, the agreement would go into effect only after Iran makes sure that the US will abide by its undertakings at the end of this two-month delay.

Zarif also warned the White House that certain political factions in and outside the US are resolved to block the path to any final nuclear deal and settlement of the standoff, and underscored that the opposite parties to the negotiations should be aware that Iran will not accept any excessive demands.

The US Senate on Thursday advanced a legislation that would allow the Congress to review a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran.

On Sunday, Araqchi, also Iran's deputy chief negotiator in the talks with the world powers, said that the senate's intervention can delay the execution of a possible final agreement for nearly two months.

The bill gives the congress 30 days to review a final nuclear deal if Iran and the G5+1 reach such an agreement, and during that time bars US President Barack Obama from temporarily waiving any US sanctions on Iran that were passed by congress.

If Congress approves of the deal or fails to disapprove within a certain timeframe the deal can move forward.

While the debate continues, some US lawmakers have signaled their support for the Obama's talks with Iran. 150 Democrats have urged Obama to “stay on course” and commended the work of world powers so far in the process.

After nine days of hard work in Lausanne, Switzerland, Iran and the G5+1 reached an understanding on April 2 which laid the ground for them to start drafting the final nuclear deal over Tehran's nuclear energy program ahead of a July 1 deadline.

Reading out a joint statement at a press conference with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Lausanne on April 2, Zarif said according to the agreement, all the US, EU and UN Security Council sanctions against Iran would be lifted under the final deal.

The seven nations are now drafting the final deal.