Ambassador to UN Takht-Ravanchi:
West’s Non-Compliance Prompted Iran’s Remedial Steps
UNITED NATIONS (Dispatches) -- Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations says the Islamic Republic is not interested in any escalation of tensions with the U.S., and unlike Washington, Tehran has no interest in making provocative moves.
Majid Takht-Ravanchi made the remarks after Tehran’s moves to scale down its compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, officially known as the JCPOA.
He said the moves made by Iran in reaction to the failure of other JCPOA parties in living up to their commitments cannot result in escalation of tensions.
"When the Trump administration decided to leave the JCPOA, the remaining parties to the JCPOA asked us not to adopt a stance similar to that of Trump. They said they will compensate for the damages caused by the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the deal. We waited for a year, but we didn’t get anything from their promises, and it was just an empty promise,” he said.
Therefore, the envoy added, Iran had no other choice in its effort to create a balance in the nuclear deal.
"Recently, when our parliament witnessed that the other parties to the JCPOA are not serious about making up for our damages, and that the E3 is not willing to fulfill its commitments, it decided to … pass a law that obliges the administration to take measures like increasing uranium enrichment.”
The ambassador said what Iran did was based on the Paragraph 36 of the nuclear deal, and was in line with Tehran’s commitments based on the text and spirit of the JCPOA.
"It wasn’t Iran that sent arms to a region far from its territory; it was rather the U.S. that sent arms and warships to our region, which is 7,000 miles away from America,” he said.
"All these provocative moves, including the assassination of our dear general Martyr Soleimani which was a very provocative terrorist attack, were made by the U,S. Iran hasn’t had and still doesn’t have any interest in making provocative moves,” Takht-Ravanchi said.
Asked about Qatar’s bid to mediate between Tehran and Washington, Takht-Ravanchi said the U.S. return to the JCPOA needs no mediator.
"We have good relations with our Qatari brothers. Qatar is a totally friendly country, but we believe the US must return to its commitments in full, and that’s what needs to be done. Therefore, it needs no mediator.”
Takht-Ravanchi said the U.S. implementation of its commitments does not even need any negotiation.
"It is up to the U.S. to decide whether it wants to fulfill its commitments or not. The implementation of their commitments does not need any negotiation. The U.S. needs to make the necessary decisions,” he added.
He said the U.S. administration is well aware that the sooner it returns to its JCPOA commitments, the better.
"The best way is that the U.S. returns to its commitments, and then Iran will do the same. In that way, talks can be held on the JCPOA-related issues within the P5+1 platform. This is an easy and diplomatic way, and I think this solution can be easily achieved.”
The Islamic Republic insists that as the party that has abandoned its international obligations, the U.S. should take the first step by removing the unlawful bans in a verifiable manner.
Majid Takht-Ravanchi made the remarks after Tehran’s moves to scale down its compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, officially known as the JCPOA.
He said the moves made by Iran in reaction to the failure of other JCPOA parties in living up to their commitments cannot result in escalation of tensions.
"When the Trump administration decided to leave the JCPOA, the remaining parties to the JCPOA asked us not to adopt a stance similar to that of Trump. They said they will compensate for the damages caused by the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the deal. We waited for a year, but we didn’t get anything from their promises, and it was just an empty promise,” he said.
Therefore, the envoy added, Iran had no other choice in its effort to create a balance in the nuclear deal.
"Recently, when our parliament witnessed that the other parties to the JCPOA are not serious about making up for our damages, and that the E3 is not willing to fulfill its commitments, it decided to … pass a law that obliges the administration to take measures like increasing uranium enrichment.”
The ambassador said what Iran did was based on the Paragraph 36 of the nuclear deal, and was in line with Tehran’s commitments based on the text and spirit of the JCPOA.
"It wasn’t Iran that sent arms to a region far from its territory; it was rather the U.S. that sent arms and warships to our region, which is 7,000 miles away from America,” he said.
"All these provocative moves, including the assassination of our dear general Martyr Soleimani which was a very provocative terrorist attack, were made by the U,S. Iran hasn’t had and still doesn’t have any interest in making provocative moves,” Takht-Ravanchi said.
Asked about Qatar’s bid to mediate between Tehran and Washington, Takht-Ravanchi said the U.S. return to the JCPOA needs no mediator.
"We have good relations with our Qatari brothers. Qatar is a totally friendly country, but we believe the US must return to its commitments in full, and that’s what needs to be done. Therefore, it needs no mediator.”
Takht-Ravanchi said the U.S. implementation of its commitments does not even need any negotiation.
"It is up to the U.S. to decide whether it wants to fulfill its commitments or not. The implementation of their commitments does not need any negotiation. The U.S. needs to make the necessary decisions,” he added.
He said the U.S. administration is well aware that the sooner it returns to its JCPOA commitments, the better.
"The best way is that the U.S. returns to its commitments, and then Iran will do the same. In that way, talks can be held on the JCPOA-related issues within the P5+1 platform. This is an easy and diplomatic way, and I think this solution can be easily achieved.”
The Islamic Republic insists that as the party that has abandoned its international obligations, the U.S. should take the first step by removing the unlawful bans in a verifiable manner.