US Senate Vote to Extend Iran Sanctions Contrary to JCPOA: Spokesman

“As declared repeatedly by Iran’s high-ranking officials, the recent approval of extension of sanctions against Iran by the US House of Representatives and Senate is contrary to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the US obligations under international law regarding non-interference in other countries’ internal and international relations,” Qassemi said in a statement released on Friday.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has demonstrated its commitment to its international undertakings, he said, stressing, however, that Tehran has taken all appropriate precautions to safeguard the Iranian nation’s rights in any conditions.

The US Senate voted unanimously on Thursday to extend the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) for another decade.

The measure passed by 99-0. It passed the House of Representatives nearly unanimously in November, and congressional aides said they expected President Barack Obama would sign it.

The ISA will expire on Dec. 31 if not renewed. The White House had not pushed for an extension, but had not raised serious objections.

While the JCPOA, the nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) came into force in January, some Iranian officials complain about the US failure to fully implement the accord.

In an address to a gathering of Basij forces in Tehran on November 23, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei made it clear that implementation of the bill to extend sanctions on Iran for 10 more years will translate into a breach of the JCPOA.

“If such extension (of anti-Iran sanctions) is implemented and comes into force (in the US), it will be definitely a violation of the JCPOA,” the Leader said at the time.

“They (Americans) should know that the Islamic Republic of Iran will certainly show reaction to it,” Ayatollah Khamenei underlined.