Iran: US sanctions have endangered nuclear deal

A senior Iranian official says the renewal of US sanctions against the Islamic Republic has “endangered” the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world countries.

“The new wave of anti-Iran sanctions by the US puts pressure on underway efforts to implement the commitments existing under the agreement,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Abbas Araqchi said in Rome on Thursday.

“The consequences of the reinstatement of the sanctions on the part of the US are worrisome,” he added.

The nuclear deal would offer the international community the guarantee that the Islamic Republic would stay committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), he told the Vatican’s Foreign Minister Paul Richard Gallagher during a one-day visit to Italy.

“The recent move by Washington can bring along insecurity across the international community as it overshadows international relations and equations,” the Iranian official said.

The other parties to the agreement, namely Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany, Araqchi said, consider the reimposition of the sanctions to be “a heavy blow” to the NPT.

The Iranian official pointed to the US’s departure from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was followed by Washington’s re-introduction of sanctions lifted under the accord.

Oppressive US sanctions target Iranian nation: Rouhani

President Rouhani says US sanctions will harm the people of Iran, and will fail to affect the country’s oil sales.

He said the US had reneged on all its commitments under the deal, and by leaving it had not only damaged its reputation on the international arena, but also violated the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified Iran’s commitment to the JCPOA through 13 rounds of inspections, Araqchi reminded.

Gallagher, for his part, said the Vatican had supported the JCPOA from the outset and considered it to be a “positive” development within the framework of regional peace, stability, and security.

“The Vatican is officially poised against these sanctions and in step with other European countries, it pursues mechanisms aimed at reducing them,” he added.

He also asked Tehran to remain committed to the deal despite the US measures.

Separately, Gallagher described the Vatican’s relations with Tehran positive and said it planned to invite Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for a visit in the future.