Iran FM rules out negotiation over new nuke deal

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif ruled out the possibility of any negotiation over a new nuclear deal, Tehran Times daily reported Saturday.

"We will never negotiate a new deal," Zarif said on Friday during his visit to India's Mumbai to attend a meeting organized by All India Association of Industries.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear activities in exchange for the termination of Western and UN sanctions.

However, US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the deal in May 2018 and slapped full sanctions against Iran.

Trump has been urging a new deal with the aim of more limits on Iran's nuclear program.

On Friday, Zarif called for the Indian government to persuade the US government to return to the deal.