China: World must stop US push to reinstate Iran bans, kill JCPOA

Speaking on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the conclusion of the deal, named the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Monday hailed the accord as an efficient and successful model of multilateral diplomacy in resolving international issues.

“The JCPOA has become a key element of the international nuclear non-proliferation system, an important positive factor in maintaining regional and global peace and stability, and good practice of resolving regional hotspot issues through multilateral approaches,” she said.

The Chinese official further censured Washington’s decision to abandon the JCPOA, along with other international treaties, saying the move was in contravention of Security Council Resolution 2231, which has endorsed the 2015 multilateral nuclear deal.

In May 2018, US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the nuclear deal and re-impose the sanctions that the agreement had lifted in violation of Resolution 2231.

“Such clear violation of the UNSCR 2231 has led to continued tension over the Iranian nuclear issue,” Hua said.

The Chinese official expressed regret that “the US has, in recent years, been upholding unilateralism, renouncing its international obligations, and withdrawing from treaties and organizations.”

She also blasted the US for seeking to further undermine the JCPOA by pushing for an extension of UN arms embargo on Iran, which is due to expire in October, and “threatening to activate the rapid reinstatement of sanctions mechanism.”

Hua said that “preserving and implementing the JCPOA is the right way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue,” adding that Tehran’s “scaling back of compliance is the result of the maximum pressure exerted by the US.”

She further called on the signatories of the deal to “strengthen dialog and consultation within the framework of the Joint Commission, seek a solution to the compliance dispute in a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, and restore the balance of rights and obligations under the JCPOA.”

“The parties should support strengthened dialog and cooperation between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran in order to properly resolve the safeguards issue as soon as possible,” she said.

“At the same time, the international community should jointly oppose the US pushing the Security Council to extend or reinstate sanctions against Iran and urge the US to return to the right track of compliance with the JCPOA and UNSCR,” the Chinese official said.

“China’s unwavering aim is to maintain the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East, and to uphold multilateralism, the authority of the UN, and the international order based on international law,” Hua said.

The Chinese official said Beijing would continue to “work with other parties to the JCPOA to continue advancing the political and diplomatic resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue. At the same time, we will firmly safeguard our legitimate rights and interests.”