Iran will act wisely after US renewal of sanctions: First VP

Iran’s First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri says the Islamic Republic will make a wise decision and protect the country’s dignity and interests in responding to a US Senate vote to extend the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) for a decade.

“The [Iranian] nation’s interests will be sternly safeguarded,” Jahangiri said on Sunday in reaction to what Iran has stressed is the failure of the US to comply with its obligations under last year’s landmark nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.

The US Senate recently voted to extend the ISA for another 10 years. The sanctions law, which would authorize the US president to re-impose sanctions on Iran, was first adopted in 1996 to punish investments in the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program and support for anti-Israeli resistance groups.

The ISA now needs President Barack Obama’s signature to be turned into law.

Jahangiri further said the JCPOA was the result of Iran’s “long and complicated negotiations” with the six global powers, the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Union.

He stressed that the UN Security Council, the IAEA and the EU on the international level have all endorsed the JCPOA.

“The US move against the JCPOA is a move against international dialog and interaction,” the Iranian first vice president pointed out.

He said the US vote to extend the ISA was not only a move against the Iranian nation and administration but also “against international agreements.”

Jahangiri emphasized the importance of adopting rational and prudent approaches to counter such moves.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia – plus Germany started to implement the JCPOA on January 16.

Under the deal, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related bans imposed against Tehran.

After the JCPOA took effect in January, the IAEA, which monitors the deal’s implementation process, has in numerous reports confirmed Iran’s commitment to its obligations.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said in April that Iran had even gone beyond its obligations under the JCPOA.