Iran: US Conduct on JCPOA Has Ruined Chances of Talks
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a litmus test on whether any dialogue with the US on non-nuclear issues could take place, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said, adding that the US lack of commitment and obstructive measures only thickened the wall of mistrust.
“We consider the JCPOA as a benchmark for assessing whether or not it is possible to hold talks (with the US) on other issues,” Bahram Qassemi said at a weekly press conference on Monday, regretting that the Americans proved untrustworthy in practice, and made the wall of distrust thicker with obstructionism.
“The US is not a country one could trust and rely on,” the spokesperson deplored, saying Washington should choose between bullying and constructive interaction.
Describing the JCPOA as a very solid agreement, Qassemi said that for all its obstructive measures and lack of commitment, the US has failed to harm the deal.
He further denounced new US sanctions against Iran as part of attempts to deprive Tehran of the advantages of the JCPOA or to upset the political situation.
Qassemi then underlined that Iran is closely monitoring the implementation of the JCPOA and is in contact with the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).
Representatives from Iran and the Group 5+1 convened in Vienna on Friday for a new session of the JCPOA joint commission, a group tasked with monitoring commitments to the nuclear deal.
After the meeting, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi said Iran’s team announced at the conclusion of the gathering that “we have not been convinced” about explanations given about “Washington’s lack of commitment” to the nuclear accord.
He said the US government “must be held accountable” for the violation of the nuclear agreement, stressing, “The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right for any kind of reaction.”
Iran and the six powers reached a conclusion over the text of the nuclear deal in July 2015 and implemented it in January 2016.
Under the agreement, certain limits have been put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all nuclear-related bans against Tehran.
In all of its reports after coming into force of the JCPOA, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran as well as the Islamic Republic’s commitment to the nuclear deal.