Envoy: Iran Not to Stick to JCPOA Unilaterally
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations highlighted the country’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal so far, saying, however, that Tehran would not agree to continue a one-way commitment to the multilateral agreement.
In an address to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Majid Takht-Ravanchi said it is unacceptable for Iran to carry out the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) unilaterally, while the other parties to the international deal are not bothering to fulfill their commitments.
“Today, the JCPOA has practically turned into an agreement that is being carried out by only one member (Iran). A multilateral agreement cannot be implemented unilaterally. Iran cannot, should not and would not shoulder the burden of the JCPOA,” he emphasized.
He said the three EU parties to the deal had an entire year to compensate for the US withdrawal from the JCPOA and ensure Iran’s interests, but Tehran’s goodwill and patience resulted in nothing but a series of hackneyed pledges from the other parties.
The JCPOA is in tough conditions now, Takht-Ravanchi added, calling on the other parties, particularly the UK, France and Germany, to take “timely, serious, sufficient and practical steps” to save the accord.
He also held the other side of the deal accountable for the possible consequences of another failure to honor the JCPOA.
On May 8, 2018, US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the JCPOA, a 159-page nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) came into force in January 2016.
Following the US withdrawal, Iran and the remaining parties launched talks to save the accord.
However, the EU’s failure to ensure Iran’s economic interests forced Tehran to stop honoring certain commitments under JCPOA on May 8, 2019.
Iran has also set a 60-day deadline for the remaining JCPOA parties to fulfill their undertakings.