Iran to discard JCPOA if bans re-imposed: Parliament speaker

Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani says the Islamic Republic will discard a nuclear deal it has struck with six world powers if Western countries attempt to re-apply economic pressure on Iran under new pretexts.

Speaking on Thursday, Larijani said Iran can see no change in the behavior of the countries with which it has struck the nuclear deal, which is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“We keep zooming in on their behavior and we see no kind of compromise or conciliatory behavior,” he said, emphasizing, however, that the sides to the JCPOA have no intention of doing away with the nuclear agreement.

The deal was reached in July 2015 and started being implemented by all sides six months later. Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program and provide enhanced access to international atomic monitors in return for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Nations and the European Union (EU) against the country.

Larijani said that the Western countries have “concerns” on other issues and seek to re-impose the sanctions against Iran under such allegations as Iranian involvement in terrorism and the status of human rights in the country.

“We have already told the Westerners,” the Iranian Parliament speaker said, “that if they engage in looking for pretexts so they can re-impose the sanctions under new excuses, we will discard the nuclear deal.”

Larijani said one of the Western objectives in trying to apply pressure to Iran with new bans is to “reduce Iranian influence in the region.”

“Iran pursues a transparent policy in the region and does not get itself involved in childish and cheap rivalries,” he said. “If Iran supports Palestine and the Islamic current in the region, it is because the country deems it its inherent and religious duty.”

He said Western countries brandish the so-called Iranian threat and sell weapons to the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf.

“That is why we believe that the behavior of the Westerners has not changed following the JCPOA and that their tactics have rather shifted.”

Larijani said Iran is located in an unsafe region and “there is the likelihood that the insecurity may spread to Iran.”

“That is why we have an active role in the region and adopt preemptive policies to maintain our own stability and security,” he explained.

Iran has been offering the Iraqi and Syrian governments — both of which face militant campaigns — advisory military help.

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