Zarif Hits Back at US for Talk of Iran JCPOA Commitments
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The US had better start honoring the 2015 nuclear deal, from which it withdrew in 2018, instead of talking about Iran’s compliance with the agreement, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said.
“Biden administration officials keep talking about Iran’s compliance with JCPOA. In what capacity?” the top Iranian diplomat said in a post on his Twitter account on Thursday.
“US ceased participation in May 2018, violated JCPOA & punished those complying with UN resolution. As of today, US remains in EXACTLY same position,” Zarif deplored.
“Before spouting off, COMPLY,” the Iranian foreign minister said in response to the American officials.
In comments in late January, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US will meet its commitments under the JCPOA only after Iran does so. He said Washington wants to restart meeting its JCPOA obligations, but that Iran needs to act first and any US return may take a while.
Last week, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said Iran will resume honoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in full only after the US has removed all sanctions on Tehran in a practical and verifiable manner.
The previous US president pulled Washington out the JCPOA in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on Iran.
