Iran’s FM Urges JCPOA Opponents to Respect Int’l Demand

In a joint press conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, Mohammad Javad Zarif strongly deplored the “unconstructive approaches” adopted by certain groups in the US and their possible plots to undermine the nuclear deal.

“Unfortunately, a group in the United States and a group in the region, the Zionist regime (of Israel) in particular, find their interests in conflict and tension,” said Zarif, who is in China on an official visit.

He further expressed the hope that, once the milestone is passed in the US, all sides would adapt themselves to the international community’s demand for peaceful settlement of important issues in the world.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14 reached a conclusion on a lasting nuclear agreement that would terminate all the sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear energy program after coming into force.

The 159-page deal has its own opponents and proponents both in Iran and the other countries that are parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), particularly the US.

Elsewhere in the press conference, the Iranian minister welcomed China’s constructive role in a plan to revise and redesign Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor and in other articles of the JCPOA.

“Iran hopes that the positive approach in the ties between the two countries would permanently continue and result in extensive cooperation in other fields,” Zarif hoped.

Yi, for his part, urged all parties in the nuclear talks to remain loyal to their commitments, saying that China will fulfill all its undertakings and political responsibilities including that of redesigning Arak heavy water reactor.

He also referred to the Iranian and Chinese economies as complementary, saying that Beijing is willing to deepen its strategic cooperation with Iran.