Iran's foreign minister says he plans to visit North Korea,... but has stopped short of saying when.
Mohammad Javad Zarif also said his country may consider pulling out of an international treaty designed to prevent the spread of nuclear arms.
Kan Hyeong-woo reports.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran could break away from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons amid tightening U.S. sanctions and the Trump administration's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.
In an interview with Iran's state-run news agency, Zarif said Iran has a number of options... which include a withdrawal from the nuclear deal,... meaning that Iran could deny inspections from the International Atomic Energy Agency and restart its nuclear programs to develop weapons.
Referring to Washington's announcement earlier this month on banning countries from importing Iranian oil,... Iran's top diplomat expressed his frustration.
"This is coercion, pure and simple. People are not happy. China is not happy. Turkey is not happy. Russia is not happy. France is not happy. U.S. allies are not happy that this this is happening. And they say that they will find ways of resisting it, How they will do it, it's up to them."
Zarif also said he's planning to visit North Korea,... adding the date of the trip is set and it will be announced soon without elaborating.
North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho visited Iran last August and met with Zarif and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
Kan Hyeong-woo, Arirang News