Araqchi: Iran’s Goal Is Not to Leave JCPOA

Date: 03 December 2019 - 22:01

News ID: ۷۳۵۰۴

TOKYO (Dispatches) -- Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs said here Tuesday the Islamic Republic has no intention to abandon a nuclear deal it clinched with major world powers in 2015, saying Tehran will resume fulfilling its commitments under the accord if sanctions are lifted. "Our goal is not to exit the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), but we have decided to reduce our commitments after an entire year of excising patience and witnessing non-compliance on the part of the European countries,”  Abbas Araqchi said in a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

Mideast Security Rouhani separately urged all neighboring states to stand shoulder to shoulder against foreign interference in regional affairs and work collectively to safeguard the region and its strategic waters.
"Through the expansion of cooperation, we should establish security in the region, particularly in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and should not allow foreigners to interfere,” Rouhani said in a meeting with visiting Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi.
He added that Iran has unveiled an initiative for regional security — known as Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE) — with the purpose of boosting regional security.
Rouhani said Iran sees no problem in expanding ties with its neighbors and resuming diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, adding all countries should stand together in order to ensure security and stability in the region.
Rouhani hailed Tehran’s cordial relations with Muscat in different fields and said the Islamic Republic "attaches special significance to the expansion of ties and cooperation with its neighbors, particularly with Oman.”
The president said the Saudi war on Yemen has had no achievement but destruction, massacre of people, hatred and grudge between the two countries’ nations and threats to Yemen’s territorial integrity.
"Despite their superficial claims, Europe and the U.S. are unfortunately not interested in the restoration of peace to Yemen because they have been able to sell huge amounts of arms,” Rouhani added.
"We should all make efforts to end the war in Yemen as soon as possible and bring stability and security to this country in the framework of Yemen-Yemeni peace talks.”
Rouhani also called for humanitarian aid delivery to the Yemeni people and expressed hope that efforts by Iran and Oman would lead to the establishment of peace, stability and security in the region and the enhancement of friendship and brotherhood among nations.
Iran believes that regional countries should work together to solve the existing problems, he said.
"The policies of the Saudi government in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon have brought no gains for them and we hope that this country’s officials will change their path of politics.”
Alawi noted that Tehran and Muscat have identical stances on many regional and international issues, adding that Iran’s Hormuz Peace Endeavor would definitely be beneficial to all countries and help develop stability and security in the region.
Alawi arrived in Tehran on Monday on his third trip to the country over the past nine months. Prior to his talks with Rouhani, he met with his Iranian counterpart Muhammad Javad Zarif, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and Parliament speaker Ali Larijani.