IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Iran has once again called on the Europeans to keep their side of the bargain under the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on the anniversary of signing the deal.

In a statement marking the 5th anniversary of the conclusion of the JCPOA, Iran asked the three European countries not to be swayed by Washington.

“Unfortunately, the situation has unfolded in such a way that we need to remind the remaining parties to the JCPOA as well as UN member states of the rights and duties stipulated in this agreement, which was reached through tough and complicated negotiations between Iran and the 5+1 group representing the international community, and which was approved by UN Security Council Resolution 2231,” read the Wednesday statement.

“[the points to be reminded range] from the emphasis that Resolution 2231 puts on the ‘promotion and facilitating of the development of ordinary economic and trade transactions and cooperation with Iran’ and the ‘full implementation of the framework’ of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 to the importance of the system governing the lifting of sanctions on the JCPOA as one of the main pillars of the deal,” the statement also read.

The statement also called on the international community to do whatever it takes to preserve the deal.

“The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as a major product of multilateralism diplomacy, enjoys the overwhelming support of the international community, and is now facing serious danger on the fifth anniversary of its conclusion. If the international community does not take enough care to guarantee a balanced implementation of the deal coupled with the goodwill of the signatories to the agreement, the JCPOA can turn into another victim of the U.S. government’s unilateral approach,” it read.

“Accordingly, international responsibility for it and its consequences solely falls upon this country (the U.S.) and governments aligned with it,” it added.

The statement also highlighted Washington’s illegal pullout from the deal has dealt a heavy blow to it.

“On the fifth anniversary of the agreement, the international, legal, technical, strategic and political substance of this deal has been severely corroded due to the United States’ illegal and destructive moves. The remaining signatories to the JCPOA are well aware of that, and unanimously believe that the main reason conducive to the current circumstances has been the repeated violations of [UNSC] Resolution 2231 and the JCPOA as well as the United States’ unilateral and illegal withdrawal from an agreement which was achieved after years of arduous multilateral talks,” the statement added.

It also lashed out at the U.S. for failing to live up to its obligations under the accord.

“The US government’s non-compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 coupled with a lack of willpower on the part of other signatories to restore the lost balance in the JCPOA has further complicated the circumstances surrounding the JCPOA and has, in practice, caused the Islamic Republic of Iran not to be able to enjoy the benefits of the JCPOA such as the lifting of nuclear sanctions despite its abidance by its obligations,” said the statement.

It highlighted that the deal was aimed at resolving the row over Iran’s atomic work in a peaceful manner.

“The JCPOA is a negotiated diplomatic solution, with a comprehensive and final nature, to peacefully resolve a chronic, fabricated crisis over the peaceful nuclear program of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” it said.

The post Tehran Urges Europe to Fulfill Its JCPOA Commitments appeared first on Iran News Daily.

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN – A senior Iranian official warns the illegal extension of the UN arms embargo on Iran will drag the already moribund Iran nuclear deal into permanent death.

Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Vice Admiral Ali Shamkhani said in a tweet that Washington’s attempt to circumvent UN Security Council Resolution 2231 will deal the coup de grace to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“This virus of sanctions is a tool used by the White House to maintain the United States’ declining hegemony,” he added.

The top official also lashed out at the European signatories to the JCPOA for failing to act decicisvely.

“On which side is Europe standing: Saving face and boosting multilateralism, or accepting humiliation again and contributing to unilateralism?” he asked rhetorically.

#JCPOA will die forever by circumventing 2231 Resolution & continuing #Iran‘s illegal weapons sanctions. Sanctions’ virus is the US tool for survival of its declining hegemony. What will #EU do: Save dignity & support multilateralism or Accept humiliation & help unilateralism?

His comments came after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed a few days ago to use all means available to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran.

A ban on selling conventional weapons to Iran ends in October under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the JCPOA.

U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said on Thursday that Washington had drafted a Security Council resolution on the issue and was “hopeful” the 15-member body will extend the arms embargo on Iran before it expires.

However, Russia and China, both parties to the JCPOA, are unlikely to allow that with their veto power.

To circumvent the veto, the U.S. will argue that it legally remains a “participant state” in the nuclear deal only to invoke a “snapback” that would restore the UN sanctions, which had been in place against Iran prior to the JCPOA’s inking.

This is while the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and re-imposed the anti-Iran sanctions that had been lifted under the agreement.

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