Iran

Iran’s Judiciary Chief Raps US for Misinterpretation of Geneva Deal

Iran’s Judiciary Chief Raps US for Misinterpretation of Geneva Deal

Iran’s Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Laraijani lashed out at the US officials for misinterpreting the Geneva deal between Tehran and the world powers, and warning that such moves will weaken the agreement.

Addressing the high-ranking Judiciary officials on Wednesday, Amoli Larijani said that the Iranian nation extends support to a deal which will comply with its national interests and observe the system’s red lines.

Contending that the Geneva deal was admitted by the Iranian negotiating team in return for rescinding anti-Iran sanctions and confidence-building measures by the world powers, he added that unfortunately, the Americans render a strange interpretation of the deal which cannot be accepted by a wise person.

Criticizing US officials’ claim that the Geneva deal solely pertains to nuclear energy and they can impose new non-nuclear embargos against Iran, Amoli Larijani noted that such interpretations will render the deal abolished and meaningless.

On November 24, Iran and the five permanent United Nations Security Council members plus Germany sealed the six-month Joint Plan of Action to lay the groundwork for the full resolution of the West’s decade-old dispute with Iran over its nuclear energy program.

In exchange for Tehran’s confidence-building bid to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities, the Sextet of world powers agreed to lift some of the existing sanctions against Tehran and continue talks with the country to settle all problems between the two sides.

Iran and the six world powers (the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany) had an expert meeting in Vienna, Austria, on December 9. The negotiations were scheduled to continue until December 13, but the Iranian negotiators cut short the talks and returned to Iran in protest at the US breach of the Geneva agreement by blacklisting a dozen companies and individuals for evading Washington’s sanctions.

US Secretary of State John Kerry tried to soothe Tehran’s anger over Washington’s fresh sanctions in a phone call to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif Monday night.

Speaking to reporters after the phone conversation between the two top diplomats, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said, “The phone call was initiated by the US secretary of state.”

Afkham, who was speaking to reporters during a weekly press conference on Tuesday, told reporters that during the phone talk “he (Kerry) was informed of Iran’s dissatisfaction with the trend of the experts’ plan and the details of the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action (the Geneva agreement)”.

On Sunday, Zarif deplored Washington’s recent move, and said Tehran would show a well-assessed and goal-oriented reaction to any measure adopted by the world powers in violation of the deal.

“The Americans have taken improper measures in the last few days and we have given the appropriate response to them after considering all aspects of the issue,” Zarif said.

He stressed that Tehran is seriously pursuing the Geneva negotiations with the G5+1, “and we will, of course, show proper, well-assessed, targeted and smart reaction to any improper and unconstructive measure (of the opposite side even if it doesn’t violate the Geneva agreement)”.

Iran and the world powers are due to resume experts meeting in Geneva on Thursday afternoon.

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