Iranian First VP Asks for Europe’s Firm Reaction to US Withdrawal from N. Deal

“The Islamic Republic of Iran expects the EU as an important actor on the international scene to show a firm and serious reaction in this regard so that the international community will take a lesson from this issue,” Jahangiri said in a meeting with the Bulgarian finance minister in Tehran on Monday.

“The US withdrawal from the nuclear deal as an important and multilateral agreement which has been approved by the UN Security Council is a violation of the international laws and a dangerous tradition (practice) and displays this reality that the way of negotiations and diplomacy to resolve the international issues is blocked,” he added.

Jahangiri emphasized that the EU decision against the US unilateral decision will show that “we can rely on talks and policy” otherwise, countries should opt for a different path.

In relevant remarks on Sunday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined the need for the European states to give Iran firm and objective guarantees to convince the country to remain committed to the 2015 nuclear deal after the US withdrawal.

“We are very happy that the Islamic Republic of Iran has fully been committed to its undertakings in any agreement that it has signed and we deeply regret that the highly important nuclear deal that had also been approved by the UN is violated by the US and the country has announced that it will withdraw from the deal. This means violation of moral and political norms, correct diplomatic means and international laws,” President Rouhani said in a joint press conference with his Sri Lankan counterpart Maithripala Sirisena in Tehran.

“If the other 5 states accompany us in the deal and act upon their undertakings and grant ensurances to the Iranian side that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s interests will be met by continued commitment to the nuclear deal, the agreement will continue to live despite the US and the Zionist regime’s desire,” he underscored.

On Saturday, President Rouhani ordered the foreign ministry to ask China, Russia and European states to provide Iran with objective and practical guarantees to ensure that Iran would receive the promised merits under the deal after the recent pullout from the agreement.

President Rouhani made the remarks, addressing a meeting of the government’s economic headquarters in Tehran.

He added that the talks should also include the necessities for continuing the nuclear deal.

Upon the order, Foreign Minister Zarif traveled to China and Russia.

The politico-economic expert talks between Iran and the European states are also due to be held in Brussels on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump announced last Tuesday that the US would no longer remain part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and promised to re-impose the highest level of economic sanctions against Iran in response to Tehran’s development of its nuclear program.

After Trump’s declaration, the Iranian government issued a statement, calling the US withdrawal as “unlawful”.

“The unlawful withdrawal of the US President from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”) is but the final of long and persistent violations of this accord on the part of the United States, and especially since the coming into office of its new extremist Administration. Mr. Trump’s absurd insults against the great Iranian nation indicates the extent of his ignorance and folly. Moreover, his baseless charges against the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in fact befits a regime which has through its interventions dragged the Middle East into chaos and ignited terrorism and extremism; whose Zionist ally is engaged in unprecedented cruelty, violations of human rights and aggression; and whose regional clients gave birth to and nurtured terrorist groups, which Mr. Trump in a ridiculous claim linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is regrettable that this kind of individual now governs the civilized and peaceful American people,” the statement said.

“Ever since his election campaign, Mr. Trump has declared his hatred of the JCPOA, an accord recognized as a victory of diplomacy by the international community. Since taking office, Mr. Trump has not only made explicit and official statements against the agreement in violation of its provisions, but has in practice also failed to implement US practical – and not merely formal commitments under the JCPOA. The Islamic Republic of Iran has recorded these violations in numerous letters to the Joint Commission convened under the JCPOA, outlining the current US Administration’s bad faith and continuous violations of the accord. Thus Mr. Trump’s latest action is not a new development but simply means the end of the obstructionist presence of the United States as a participant in the JCPOA,” it added.

“The JCPOA is a multilateral accord adopted unanimously in a United Nations Security Council resolution, which in contrast with the claims of Mr. Trump, is not merely an agreement of his predecessor whose implementation can be ignored by a succeeding US Administration,” the statement said.

“This action on the part of the US President is not limited to the JCPOA. Indeed, violations of law and breaking of commitments have become a pattern under the current US Administration, going from the Paris Climate Accord to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It was only due to the global consensus on the JCPOA and the accord’s inner strength that it took the United States Government sixteen months to explicitly and officially pull out,” it added.

“Beyond further damaging the credibility of the United States on the world stage, the US withdrawal from the JCPOA has put into question the foundation of international relations in today’s world, the credibility of accords entered into with the US – whether bilaterally or multilaterally – and also put the present system of international law in serious danger,” the statement underlined.

“Unlike the US, the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to its international obligations and sees the upholding of such commitments as a fundamental religious principle and an incontrovertible norm which underpins international law. So far, Iran’s fulfilment of all its commitments under the JCPOA has been verified by the only internationally recognized authority, namely the International Atomic Energy Agency, and repeatedly acknowledged by all parties to the JCPOA, including the US As such, unfounded claims and ludicrous propaganda shows have no value or credibility within the JCPOA, especially since the International Atomic Energy Agency, following the accusations made by Trump and his accomplices, has again reiterated that Iran is abiding by its commitments under the accord,” it added.

“Iran, as a country that has remained committed to its legal obligations, will pursue the US Government’s decision to withdraw from the JCPOA as provided by the mechanisms and provisions of the accord, and if the US withdrawal is not fully compensated and the full interests of the Iranian people are not met and guaranteed – as stated in the accord and as outlined by Iran’s Leader on 9 May – it will exercise its legal right to take whatever reciprocal measures it deems expedient. Other parties to the JCPOA, and especially its three European signatories, must take necessary action to safeguard the accord and to implement their commitments – which they proved incapable of fully performing even while the US was nominally a party to the deal, due to the obstructions by the Trump Administration – and to proceed from giving pledges to taking practical action without any preconditions,” the statement underscored.

“None of the provisions or timeframes within the JCPOA, which were the subject of twelve years of negotiations, are negotiable in any manner. The US, which has through its meddling and erroneous policies ignited extremism, terrorism, destruction, war and child killing in our region, is in no position to issue any diktat about the Islamic Republic of Iran’s lawful presence within its own region nor its effective support for the peoples of Syria and Iraq in their endeavor to fight extremists. The US and its allies, which through their support for the regime of Saddam Hussein, including equipping it with chemical weapons and the most advanced military equipment while blocking Iran’s access to any means of defense victimized the Iranian people for eight years, and currently turning our region into a powder keg through their sale of hundreds of billions of dollars of useless advanced weaponry devouring the financial resources of the region, are in no position to impose restrictions on the Islamic Republic of Iran’s lawful means of defense, including defensive ballistic missiles which have been designed to carry conventional weapons based on the bitter experiences of the war with the regime of Saddam Hussein. Indeed, such efforts explicitly violate the principles of international law, and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s legitimate right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter,” it said.

“As announced by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran on 8 May, the Foreign Minister has been tasked with the duty of taking the necessary measures to obtain required guarantees from the remaining parties to the JCPOA as well as Iran’s other economic partners, and to immediately report the results of this mission. Meanwhile, the President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has been tasked with taking all necessary steps in preparation for Iran to pursue industrial-scale enrichment without any restrictions, using the results of the latest research and development of Iran’s brave nuclear scientists,” the statement added.

“The people of Iran will with calm and confidence continue their path towards progress and development and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has foreseen all necessary measures to facilitate this under any circumstances,” the Iranian government emphasized.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a secure and powerful state, which derives its security and economic development from within, relying on the prudent participation and resilience of its brave and civilized people, seeks constructive and dignified engagement with the world, and as shown by its implementation of the JCPOA despite the United States’ continuous violations, is a trustworthy and committed partner for all who are prepared to cooperate on the basis of shared interests and mutual respect,” the statement concluded.