Tehran, Iran (CNN) The United States is addicted to applying sanctions on Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Sunday in an exclusive interview from Tehran. "I believe there is a disease in the United States and that is the addiction to sanctions," he told CNN, adding that, "Even during the Obama administration the United States put more emphasis on keeping the sanctions it had not lifted rather than implementing its obligation on the sanctions it lifted." The US-educated minister gave the interview in fluent English on the 65th anniversary of a US-backed coup that overthrew democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. Zarif retained a clear belief during the hourlong interview in the foreign ministry that the nuclear deal could be revived regardless of the Trump administration denunciation of it. JUST WATCHED How US sanctions hit ordinary people in Iran Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH How US sanctions hit ordinary people in Iran 02:08Zarif expressed his dismay that the United States has not learned that sanctions are ineffective in changing the political climate in Iran.

Source: CNN August 19, 2018 22:52 UTC