UN Chief Urges Revival of JCPOA
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres stressed the need for all parties to the 2015 nuclear deal to resume honoring their commitments, reaffirming the UN’s support for diplomacy and negotiations to achieve an ultimate agreement on the revival of the JCPOA.
In a telephone conversation on Thursday night, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and the UN secretary-general talked about a series of regional and international developments, including the recent devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria and the latest developments surrounding the talks on the removal of sanctions against Iran.
Amirabdollahian pointed to the UN chief’s initiative for regional dialogue, highlighted the Iranian government’s balanced foreign policy doctrine, and stressed that Iran welcomes the continuation of such meetings and increased regional cooperation.
The top Iranian diplomat then stressed the need to increase international aid for quake-hit people in Turkey and Syria. He noted that people are facing a catastrophic situation in Syria’s Idlib because the Syrian government has no access to that region.
Amirabdollahian added that the UN chief’s deputy for the coordination of humanitarian affairs is expected to pay special attention to the issue.
He further referred to the relief aid Iran is giving to the quake-stricken people and announced Tehran’s readiness to send relief teams to Idlib.
The Iranian foreign minister also referred to the sanctions removal talks and the necessity for the International Atomic Energy Agency’s professional measures. He said the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the IAEA have worked out a framework for cooperation. He noted that a visit by the IAEA director general to Tehran is on the agenda, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported.
The UN secretary general, for his part, congratulated the Iranian president and foreign minister on the National Day of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Guterres described the continuation of regional cooperation as important.
He also pointed to the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, said his deputy for humanitarian affairs is heading to the two countries, and emphasized that the UN will do its utmost to help the people in the quake-hit zones.
“We believe that helping the people of Syria is a completely humanitarian issue,” Guterres said.
He further referred to the sanctions removal talks, saying the return of all sides to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is the only option.
Guterres said he will continue supporting the diplomatic path and negotiations until a final agreement on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal is reached.
The two sides also held talks about the latest state of negotiations on lifting the sanctions on Iran and a series of issues of mutual interest.
