These came a day after sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program were lifted.
A multitude of business regulations - 182,000 by one minister's count - stands in the way of a rapid flow of foreign investment into Iran after the lifting of nuclear sanctions ended its long isolation from global commerce.
In exchange for the release of five U.S. prisoners in Iran, the United States dropped charges against seven Iranians, accused of violating trade sanctions and canceled warrants against 14 others, and paid almost $2 billion to settle a financial dispute. He called the Iranian missile program "a legitimate defense" that is allowed under the landmark nuclear deal that was enacted last weekend.
"It shows that the United States has an addiction which has been very hard for it to overcome", Zarif said, specifying, "Its addiction to pressure, addiction to coercion, addiction to sanctions".
Speaking to reporters, he said he regretted that the images of US sailors captured and subsequently released in Iranian waters were made public. For Fresno Businessman, and Iranian immigrant Ali Nekumanesh the end of sanctions will help the people of Iran.
"We have deals that are being worked out with Airbus all sorts of companies from nuclear technology companies, to irrigation, green energy... a whole range of them", he said, without elaborating.
The United States on Sunday imposed sanctions against 11 individuals and entities involved in Iran's ballistic missile program as a result of Tehran's firing of a medium-range ballistic missile.
Zarif also urged Saudi Arabia to not choose conflict as tensions between the two countries reach boiling point. Costa applauded Secretary of State John Kerry's diplomacy with Iran and likened it to the improvement in US-Soviet Relations in the 1980'S, but said it's just a first step.
