Official: Chance to Save Nuclear Deal Won’t Last Forever

Date: 09 May 2023 - 22:28

News ID: ۱۱۴۸۸۸

TEHRAN - Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani says the revival of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is possible if the U.S. and the European signatories to the agreement have the will to reach that aim, warning that the opportunity will not last forever.

Bagheri Kani, also deputy foreign minister for political affairs, made the remarks in tweets on Tuesday, marking the fifth anniversary of the United States’ unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in defiance of international criticisms.

“A critical reminder: 5 years ago, the U.S. rendered a fatal blow to ‘rule of law at the international level’ by unlawfully withdrawing from JCPOA. Ever since, the U.S. has failed to reverse its wrongful act. Iran’s legitimate remedial measures will continue,” he wrote.

“The full implementation of JCPOA (with effective sanctions lifting at its core) could be resumed, should the reneging party (and EU/E3) demonstrate credible political will to that effect. No opportunity is forever!”

Iran proved the peaceful nature of its nuclear program to the world by signing the JCPOA with six world powers. However, Washington’s exit in May 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell also says the Iran nuclear deal, JCPOA, is important to Europe, and urged all parties to the deal to return to their commitments under the agreement.

In a phone conversation with

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian, Borrell said, “We will make efforts to bring all parties back to the agreement.”
Borrell welcomed the ongoing cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, and described the continuation of this cooperation as useful and positive.
Borrell further pointed to the normalization process between Iran and Saudi Arabia, describing it as an important step toward regional stability.
Amir-Abdollahian also noted that the principle of dialogue based on mutual respect is an important and decisive step in order to remove obstacles and continue down the path of relations between Europe and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Amir-Abdollahian underlined the Islamic Republic of Iran always welcomes constructive initiatives.
Negotiations kicked off in the Austrian capital city of Vienna in April 2021, with the intention of removing anti-Iran sanctions and examining the United States’ seriousness in rejoining the accord.
The talks, however, have been at a standstill since August 2022 due to Washington’s insistence on not removing all the sanctions and its failure to offer necessary guarantees that it will not abandon the deal again.