Iran urges West to take necessary measures to support JCPOA

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the Islamic Republic expects Western countries to take proper measures to support the recently reached agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Zarif made the remark upon arrival in New York on Tuesday evening local time to pursue the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) clinched between the Iran and six world powers in July.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi and Hamid Baeidinejad, who serves as the director general for political affairs at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, also accompany Zarif in his visit to New York.

Iran and the P5+1 group – Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany – succeeded in finalizing the text of the JCPOA in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on July 14.

Zarif said how to implement the JCPOA is of utmost significance, adding that time is ripe for six world powers, especially those who have imposed “unjust sanctions” against Iran, to take practical measures to bring about a fundamental and tangible change in their approach towards Iran based on UN resolution 2231, which turned the JCPOA into an official document. The resolution was adopted on July 20.

According to Zarif, Iran and the P5+1 group will hold meetings at the ministerial level in New York to pursue the implementation of the JCPOA, adding that if needed, experts from the two sides will also convene a meeting to determine what measures should be taken on the removal of sanctions as well as the issue of redesigning the Arak heavy water reactor.

Under the JCPOA, limits will be put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all economic and financial bans against the Islamic Republic.