Iran to Take 2 Fundamental Measures in Next 2 Months: Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian president’s Chief of Staff, Mahmoud Vaezi, said before the end of a two-month deadline set for the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal to fulfill their undertakings, the Islamic Republic will take two “fundamental measures” to counteract US hostilities.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet session in Tehran on Wednesday, Vaezi highlighted Iran’s measures before the end of a 60-day deadline set for Europe by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
“During these two months, we would take two fundamental measures and if we gain the result (we seek), we will return to the (conditions of the) day before today, but if we do not reach that result, we will implement the second phase,” he warned, without giving more details about the measures.
He further emphasized that the measures taken by Iran are within the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and that no one in Iran, the region or the US is after a war.
The SNSC issued a statement on Wednesday, saying the country is no longer fulfilling some of its obligations under the JCPOA, and setting a two-month deadline for the remaining parties to fulfill their undertakings.
From Wednesday on, Iran stops some of its measures taken under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the statement said.
“At the current stage, we are not committed to complying with restrictions on the keeping enriched uranium reserves and heavy water supplies,” the SNSC stated.
The statement came a few days after the US administration renewed five of seven sanctions waivers that allow Russia and European nations to conduct civilian nuclear cooperation with Iran but revoked the other two as part of its pressure campaign against Tehran.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo extended the waivers, which were due to expire Saturday, for 90 days, shorter than the 180 days that had been granted in the past.
The waivers permit work at several Iranian nuclear sites to continue without US penalties. Under the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, Russia and several European nations help maintain the facilities.
Washington also stopped issuing waivers to buy Iranian crude oil on Thursday.
Before the US moves, Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, had warned against their consequences.
On May 8, 2018, US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the JCPOA.
Following the US withdrawal, Iran and the remaining parties launched talks to save the accord.
The European Union has vowed to counter Trump’s renewed sanctions on Iran, including by means of a new law to shield European companies from punitive measures, but it has so far failed to do anything beyond making statements.
