SCO Urges JCPOA Parties to Meet Obligations
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) highlighted the importance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, calling on all parties to deal to meet their obligations.
The SCO member states voiced their support for the JCPOA in a 31-page statement issued at the end of a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Kyrgyzstan on Friday.
“The Member States believe the consistent implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear program to be a priority and, in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2231, call on all the participants to strictly fulfill their obligations for the comprehensive and effective implementation of the document,” the statement read.
The statement came against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the JCPOA.
Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.
Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans and selling crude oil.
On the first anniversary of the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran announced that it would suspend the implementation of some of its commitments under the deal, announcing that it would stop exporting excess uranium and heavy water, setting a 60-day deadline for the five remaining parties to the deal to take practical measures towards ensuring its interests in the face of the American sanctions.