Zarif: US Not Fully Compliant With Spirit of Nuke Deal
Local Editor
Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif lashed out at the US for its failure to completely observe its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal by occasionally preventing the Islamic Republic from enjoying the full benefits of the agreement.
Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in New York, Zarif stressed that all parties to the deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA], must remain committed to the terms of the agreement.
Zarif is in New York to attend the UN high-level political forum on sustainable development on Friday.
"Unfortunately up until now, the United States, while remaining at the very least possible level compliant with the agreement, has failed to observe, in times, the letter and mostly the spirit of the agreement by not allowing Iran to enjoy the full benefits of the nuclear deal. We believe they need to reconsider that position, because it is not conducive to the sustainability of the agreement," Zarif said.
Zarif argued that the West's policy of pressure against Iran has proved to be ineffective, adding, "The JCPOA is a multilateral agreement that was the result of many years of negotiation."
"It was also the result of many years of pressure. After all those pressures failed to bring about the results that were expected from those who were imposing pressure on the Iranian people, there was no other choice but to reach a negotiated settlement," added the Iranian minister.
"I think at the end of the day, everybody will see that the agreement will represent an outcome that was the best possibility for all concerned [parties]," he pointed out.
Zarif's comments come on the second anniversary of the landmark deal, which was inked on July 14, 2017, between Tehran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia - plus Germany. The JCPOA was later endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution.
Since January 2016, when the JCPOA took effect, the International Atomic Energy Organization, which monitors the technical implementation of the deal, has in numerous reports confirmed Iran's compliance.
During his presidential campaign, US President Donald Trump described the nuclear accord with Iran as a "disaster" and vowed to unilaterally scrap it.
While he has not carried out that threat, his administration is conducting a "review" to see whether the provision of sanctions relief to Iran - a US commitment under the deal - is in America's "national interest."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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