CBS interview with Mohammad Javad Zarif


BRENNAN: So I want to ask you about some of the prisoners in this country and in - in your country. There are about five Americans being held in Tehran including a scholar from Princeton, an 81 year old man who we've talked about Baquer Namazi, who is of failing health. What are their conditions right now?

ZARIF: Well, as you, as you pointed out there are many Iranian prisoners both in the United States as well as people who-- including a lady who had to give birth in an Australian prison because of a U.S. extradition request. Our judiciary is an independent organ. Just what you would say about your courts and we cannot have an impact on the decisions of our judiciary. But we have been trying to use our influence from a humanitarian perspective. First of all in order to make sure that their health- their health requirements are taken care of as well as to see whether a humanitarian agreement can be reached.

BRENNAN: But would you agree to sit down with the Trump administration to talk about these prisoners?

ZARIF: Well it is- it is important as I said for the administration to show the ability to engage in a respectful discourse.

BRENNAN: Well they've said they've made an offer to Iran. We want to sit down and talk to you about these consular visits and these prisoners.

ZARIF: It's not an offer, it's a demand. But before - before you make demands the United States needs to learn how to treat other sovereign nations, particularly sovereign nations who do not depend on the United States for continued existence and who can live without U.S. support not only for two weeks, but for 40 years.

BRENNAN: So you don't want to sit down and negotiate about this -

ZARIF: No I didn't say that.

BRENNAN: - but is there something that you'd want to see?

ZARIF: I said the United States needs to approach this from a position of dealing with another sovereign government. And if that approach led to change then the United States would see a difference.

BRENNAN: What does that mean? What do you want to see?

ZARIF: Respect.

BRENNAN: How?

ZARIF: Disrespect. You do not engage in negotiations by exercising disrespect for a country, for its people. For its government by openly making claims including this illusion about regime change. Then you do not leave much room for a genuine dialogue.

BRENNAN: So a prisoner swap in the future like you had with the Obama administration you don't see that happening again?

ZARIF: Well it is- it is a possibility certainly from a humanitarian perspective, but, but it requires a change of attitude >>>