DHAKA: Iran’s foreign minister defended himself on Tuesday against what he called ‘slander, profanity and insults’ by conservative hardliners at home who have accused him of undermining the state and are pushing for his position to be reviewed.

Mohamed Javad Zarif was Iran’s chief negotiator in a breakthrough deal struck with world powers last month under which Tehran is to curb its disputed nuclear program in exchange for some respite from sanctions.

Some pro-security hardliners in Iran’s complex power structure have complained that its negotiators gave up too much in Geneva by agreeing to stop higher-grade uranium enrichment in return for only limited relief from sanctions.

BDST: 2034 HRS, DEC 10, 2013