Spokesman Slams US Moves to Deprive Iran of JCPOA Benefits
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi slammed US moves against the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and said Washington has taken measures to prevent Tehran from fully reaping the benefits of the deal.
Speaking to reporters at his weekly press conference in Tehran on Monday, Qassemi pointed to recent comments made by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyed Abbas Araqchi about the possibility of the country’s withdrawal from the JCPOA and said Tehran had a lot to gain from the deal.
“But we were faced with the US government’s violations and act of sabotage aimed at preventing us from fully reaping its (JCPOA’s) benefits,” he said.
The spokesman further referred to conditions set by US President Donald Trump for the extension of waivers on anti-Tehran sanctions and his comments against Iran, saying Washington has a lot of experience in playing blame games and leveling accusations against the Islamic Republic.
“Such futile and worthless comments should not be taken seriously…,” Qassemi stressed.
In a recent speech at the Chatham House think tank in London, Araqchi said even if Trump relents and issues fresh “waivers” to continue suspending those sanctions, the existing situation is unacceptable for Iran.
“If the same policy of confusion and uncertainties about the JCPOA continues, if companies and banks are not working with Iran, we cannot remain in a deal that has no benefit for us,” Araqchi said. “That’s a fact.”
Trump told the Europeans on Jan. 12 they must agree to “fix the terrible flaws of the Iran nuclear deal” or he would re-impose the sanctions Washington lifted as part of that pact.
The JCPOA was reached in July 2015 and came into force in January 2016.
Since the historic deal was signed in Vienna, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly confirmed the Islamic Republic’s compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA, but some other parties, especially the US, have failed to live up to their undertakings.
