US to lose most from JCPOA withdrawal: Leader’s aide

A senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the United States stands to suffer the most after its move to withdraw from a multilateral nuclear deal signed between Iran and major world powers in 2015.

Ali Akbar Velayati, the Leader’s advisor on international affairs, made the remarks while speaking to reporters following a meeting with Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Tehran on Saturday, a few days after US President Donald Trump defied protests and last-minute lobbying by his European partners and unilaterally decided to withdraw from the historic nuclear accord, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and impose new sanctions on Tehran.

Trump announces ‘withdrawal’ from Iran nuclear deal

The US president announces his decision with regard to Iran’s nuclear deal.

“I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal,” Trump said on Tuesday in a televised address from the White House. “This was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made.”

Velayati said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran fully protects its independence and will by no means bow to their (Americans’) bullying and we have proved this over the past 40 years.”

He added that Trump had “disrespected international regulations and other members of the P5+1 group” by pulling the United States out of the nuclear agreement.

He emphasized that the US withdrawal from the JCPOA proved that the country easily violated international regulations and its commitments vis-à-vis countries and that it cannot be trusted at all.

The senior Iranian official said some countries concur with the US policy of bullying just because of their governments’ lack of confidence.

He warned Europe against pursuing the US policy on the nuclear deal with Iran and said such a move would harm Europe’s reputation rather than the Islamic Republic’s interests.

Velayati pointed to several cases of Washington’s violation of international treaties and agreements and said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has the capability to stand up against Americans’ non-compliance and will boost its regional presence on a daily basis.”

Iran’s policies are consistent with those of regional states such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Yemen, he said, adding, “We defend and support regional dignity and standing of these countries and our presence in the region has been based on requests by these countries’ governments.”

The Kremlin said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the landmark nuclear agreement despite the US move to pull out of it.

Russia, Germany committed to Iran nuclear deal

The Russian and German leaders reaffirm their commitment to preserving the landmark Iran nuclear deal.

The Kremlin quoted a statement issued following the call as saying, “The importance of preserving the deal from a point of view of international and regional stability was highlighted.”

Meredov submits Turkmen president’s message to Ayatollah Khamenei 

Meredov, for his part, said he held talks with Velayati on mutual and regional issues and submitted to him a message from Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for Ayatollah Khamenei.

He added that he had exchanged views with Iranian officials about all common issues between the two countries and drew up prospects for solving certain problems.

The top Turkmen diplomat held separate meetings with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif earlier on Saturday.

Rouhani said the Islamic Republic was determined to develop relations with all neighboring states, including Turkmenistan, regarding matters of mutual interest.

“There is no obstacle in the way of expanding relations between the two countries and it is necessary for these ties to be improved in all areas,” the Iranian president added.