Iran FM Blasts U.S. ‘Hypocrisy’ on Return to JCPOA

Date: 16 November 2022 - 21:43

News ID: ۱۰۹۰۹۱

TEHRAN -- Iran’s Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian said Wednesday the U.S. is sending messages, stressing that they are “in hurry” to return to the 2015 nuclear deal, while “hypocritically” hoodwinking the Western media that the accord is not a priority for them currently.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet session here, Amir-Abdollahian pointed to the latest developments in the stalled talks on reviving the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and lifting sanctions.

Messages with the American side are constantly being exchanged, he asserted, adding that the last message was conveyed “in the past 72 hours”.
“Americans are sending messages through some foreign ministers that they are in hurry for [returning to] the JCPOA, but when Rob Malley speaks to media, he hypocritically says the JCPOA ‘is not our focus right now’ and points to provocations that they seek to have about riots … in Iran,” said the top diplomat.
Americans are pursuing a “completely clear” objective and that is to “exert pressure on us so that we would cross our redlines,” Amir-Abdollahian added.
“What is important for us in the negotiations is the national interests of people,” Amir-Abdollahian hastened to add. “However, we will strongly continue our efforts for removal of sanctions through negotiations.”
The Iranian minister noted that Iran will use the opportunity to revive the 2015 deal if other parties “return to their commitments” and “the JCPOA works well for us.”
“We did not hold talks for the sake of talks but for results,” Amir-Abdollahian stressed, also advising Malley and other U.S. officials to “end hypocrisy.”
The remarks come as Malley reiterated on Monday Washington’s contradictory stance vis-à-vis Iran and said his country would leave the door open to resume diplomacy “when and if” the time came, but for now it would continue a policy of sanctions and pressure in dealing with Tehran.