Iran dismisses U.S. senators warning against possible nuclear deal

The recent letter by a group of U.S. Republican senators about a possible deal concerning Iran's nuclear issue has "no legal value," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency Monday.

"In our view, this letter has no legal value and is mostly a propaganda ploy," Zarif said, adding that it seems the signatories of the letter do not understand international law.

"The world is not the United States. The conduct of inter-state relations is governed by international law, and not by U.S. domestic law," he said referring to forty-seven U.S. Republican senators warning Monday that a deal over Iran's nuclear program will be at risk once President Barack Obama leaves office.

The Iranian foreign minister said that change of administration does not in any way relieve the next administration from international obligations undertaken by its predecessor in a possible agreement about Iran's "peaceful" nuclear program.

Many members of Congress are concerned that the Obama administration will sign off on a deal that is not strict enough, or that simply delays Iran's ability to get a nuclear weapon.

The P5+1 group (the U.S., Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany) is negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program in the hope of reaching a deal by the end of the month.

The deal would likely include Iran cutting back its nuclear program, reportedly for at least ten years, in exchange for a lifting of crippling economic sanctions. Endit