TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi said Tehran is ready to return to its commitments based on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) when “all our interests are met” within the framework of the historic nuclear deal.
Araqchi made the remarks in an article appeared in a Polish periodical, Press TV reported.
He added that Iran will continue its peaceful nuclear program according to the terms of agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since Tehran sees the peaceful use of nuclear energy as an inalienable right of the nation.
“We will go on with our peaceful nuclear program according to the rules and regulations set and agreed upon with the IAEA,” he stressed.
Iran, he said, has taken steps to reduce its commitments under a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers, officially referred to as the JCPOA), but is ready “to restore all those commitments anytime that our interests are met within the framework of the JCPOA.”
President Donald Trump of the United States, a hawkish critic of the historic deal, unilaterally withdrew Washington from the agreement in May 2018, and unleashed the “toughest ever” sanctions against the Islamic Republic in defiance of global criticism.
In response, Tehran has so far rowed back on its nuclear commitments four times in compliance with articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA, stressing, however, that its retaliatory measures will be reversible as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the mutual trade from the US sanctions.
Elsewhere in his article, Araqchi once again reiterated that the peaceful use of nuclear energy is an “inalienable” right of the Iranian nation, adding, “We will never give in this right to Washington’s bullying.”
“Despite the heavy costs of sanctions [imposed on Iran to stymie its nuclear program], we are responsible vis-à-vis the next generations in a way that we cannot accept bullying and hegemony of bullying powers,” Iran’s deputy foreign minister said.
He argued that the US has violated all commitments under the JCPOA and completely disregarded the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which upholds the accord.
He warned that if such a trend continues, it would strengthen rogue behavior within international relations and in the face of principles therein.
“Iran has never had and will never have any doubt in its march toward obtaining nuclear capability for peaceful purposes in order to boost the country’s national development,” the senior diplomat stated.
He emphasized that Iran has always fulfilled all its commitments under the JCPOA since the conclusion and start of the implementation of the deal and even after the US withdrawal from it.
Araqchi noted that the IAEA has verified Iran’s compliance with its commitments in 15 consecutive and regular reports, saying that all the agency’s documents showed in detail the Islamic Republic’s accurate and complete fulfillment of its undertakings.
- source : Iran Daily, Irannews