5th JCPOA anniv.: Iran urges European parties not to toe US line

Iran has urged the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal to live up to their obligations under the agreement, which has been the target of the US’s “illegal” and “destructive” moves, stressing Tehran’s resolve to take “decisive” action against any “irresponsible behavior” undermining the UN-endorsed document.

Referring to the deal by its official name, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that “the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as an important achievement of multilateral diplomacy, which has been strongly supported by the international community, is in serious danger on its fifth anniversary.”

The ministry called on the international community to prevent the historic deal from becoming yet another victim of Washington’s “unilateral and unlawful” approach by ensuring “the balanced implementation” of the accord by all parties.

The statement highlighted that Washington and those following in its footsteps must exclusively accept the repercussions of their policies.

“The international, legal, technical, strategic and political capital of this agreement has been deeply eroded on its fifth anniversary, due to the destructive and illegal actions of the United States,” said the statement.

“The remaining Participants of the JCPOA are aware of this and by consensus are of the view that the root cause for the current situation is the continuing violations of UNSCR 2231 and the JCPOA, and ultimately the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from an agreement reached after years of hard multilateral negotiations,” it said, referring to the resolution that endorsed the agreement.

The US government’s noncompliance with its obligations under the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, together with the other parties' lack of seriousness in restoring the lost balance, have complicated the circumstances surrounding the deal, and have effectively prevented Iran from reaping the benefits of the JCPOA, including the removal of nuclear-related sanctions, it said.

This is while Tehran remained fully committed to its end of the bargain, the statement added.

Unfortunately, the situation took a turn for the worse and the rights and obligations enshrined in the agreement, which were agreed upon during complicated negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 states  — the US, the UK, France, Russia and China plus Germany —  need to be reminded to the remaining JCPOA signatories as well as UN member states, it said.

US disregard for law, diplomacy threat to own, global security: Iran FM

Iran

The statement went on to say that Resolution 2231 (2015) emphasizes on “promoting and facilitating the development of normal economic and trade contacts and cooperation with Iran” and “its full implementation on the timetable established in the JCPOA.”

It then described JCPOA as a negotiated diplomatic solution to the peaceful settlement of a fictitious crisis over Tehran’s civilian nuclear program, saying, “Iran entered the negotiations seriously and with a view to the future, and implemented the outcome of the negotiations in good faith. Transparency and confidence-building voluntary measures, beyond the obligations under the Safeguards Agreement, [were] part of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s efforts to reassure the international community of the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program."

Regrettably, Iran did not enjoy any economic benefits from the removal of the sanctions, which the US reinstated following its withdrawal, and it is once again witnessing attempts by some enemies of the JCPOA to reopen already-closed files and completely destroy the achievements of the nuclear deal, the Foreign Ministry said.

Iran has so far had constructive and extensive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is corroborated by the number and volume of inspections, said the statement,, adding, “Any attempt to misuse the IAEA to put pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran is inconsistent with the provisions of the JCPOA, and in addition to tarnishing the IAEA's credibility.”

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also warned the remaining signatories against involvement in US conspiracies, particularly attempts to destroy and weaken the UN’s arms embargo system.

It said while Iran is ready to implement all provisions of the deal, “it is determined to take decisive action against any exaggeration and irresponsible behavior.”

China: World must stop US push to reinstate Iran sanctions, kill JCPOA

China urges the international to put pressure on the United States to make it abandon a push to reinstate anti-Iran bans and kill the JCPOA.

Tehran, the statement added, “strongly urges the E3 (France, Britain and Germany) to adhere to their commitments, and to preserve and fully implement the UN Security Council [resolution] instead of moving in the direction of the US maximum pressure policy.”

The ministry also praised China and Russia’s constructive actions and positions at the UN Security Council, the IAEA Board of Governors and the JCPOA’s Joint Commission to protect and implement the JCPOA.

“There is no alternative to this agreement, therefore, if there is a political will of the international community, especially the remaining participants of the JCPOA, to preserve this agreement, it shall be concentrated on ensuring the balanced implementation of the agreement in good faith,” it said.

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