Iran will retaliate if P5+1 reneges on JCPOA promises: Larijani

The speaker of Iran's parliament (Majlis) says Tehran will "retaliate" in case the world powers break their commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) over the Iranian nuclear program.

In a Thursday interview with the US National Public Radio (NPR), Ali Larijani added that he believes those “who want to wreck” the JCOPA “are going to find new ways to perforate” the agreement. 

He stated that Washington had tried to put pressure on Tehran during nuclear negotiations, but finally had come to acknowledge Iran’s legitimate nuclear rights following the Islamic Republic’s unwavering resistance.

He also described as “acceptable” the conclusion of Iran’s nuclear talks, however, adding that it is far from being perfect.

“My overall view is that it's an acceptable deal. I believe we can use this deal as a step we can take to move forward. And at the same time it's not flawless," he added during the interview, which will be aired on September 8.

According to Iran’s senior lawmaker, improving the economic status will top Tehran’s agenda after the implementation of the JCPOA and removal of anti-Iran sanctions.

“We should not spend our energy in areas which cannot bring about palpable or concrete changes in the livelihood of the people. We should try to focus on the economy and make a difference there," he stated.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Larijani lashed out at US officials' war-mongering rhetoric at the present time when, he said, both sides should be “paving the ground for the ratification and the implementation" of the nuclear accord.

“Every day it seems that your secretary of defense wakes up in the morning, opens the window, he shouts something at Iran and says that the military option is still on the table. If you really want to have war, then just go with it. Why are you just talking about it all the time?” he noted.

Tehran and the P5+1 - the US, Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany - finalized the JCPOA on July 14.

Under the JCPOA, limits will be put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all economic and financial bans against the Islamic Republic.

Larijani further hinted at a possible prisoner swap between Washington and Tehran over the case of Jason Rezaian (seen below), The Washington Post’s correspondent who is standing trial in Iran over espionage and other security-related charges.

"There are practical ways of course. For example, there is a number of Iranians in prison here [in the US]. Definitely for matters of this sort, one can come up with solutions. I think your politicians know about those ways," the Iranian official stated.

Larijani’s remarks came days after Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham called for the release of 19 Iranian nationals languishing in US jails on charges of bypassing anti-Iran sanctions.

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