Iran FM urges EU active, practical measures on JCPOA

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the European Union must more actively support and take practical measures on the implementation of the landmark nuclear agreement signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries more than two years ago.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday, Zarif added that he had held “very detailed” talks with the European Union's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, and was informed about efforts by the 28-nation bloc to fully implement the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Iran welcomes the European countries’ support for the complete implementation of the accord, he said.

“The European Union is required to function more actively regarding the implementation of the JCPOA and the fulfillment of [the signatories’] commitments under the JCPOA and demonstrate a practical measure,” Zarif pointed out.

The foreign minister said he told Mogherini that Iran has been living up to its commitments under the nuclear deal but the new US administration has failed to fulfill its obligations, stressing, “This situation must be rectified by European countries.”

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany signed the nuclear agreement on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

The US, under President Donald Trump, has however been attempting to undermine the deal, falsely claiming that Iran is non-compliant with it.

Trump delivered an anti-Iran speech on October 13, in which he said he would not continue to certify Iran’s compliance with the terms of the JCPOA, reached under his predecessor Barack Obama, and warned that he might ultimately terminate the agreement.

The US Congress now has less than 60 days to decide whether to reimpose economic sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under the nuclear accord.

The other parties to the accord - Britain, Germany, France, Russia, China and the European Union - have all reaffirmed their commitment to it and urged the United States not to back out.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also been consistently verifying Iranian compliance.

In a meeting with US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley in New York on Thursday, the IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said Iran has been complying with the 2015 nuclear agreement, and that the nuclear-related commitments undertaken by Tehran under the deal are being implemented.

PressTV-Iran complying with nuclear deal, Amano tells US

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano says Iran has been complying with the 2015 international nuclear agreement.

Amano called the JCPOA a significant gain for nuclear verification, and reiterated that Iran is in compliance with the provisions of its nuclear deal with the world powers.

Earlier on Friday, Mogherini said the EU would make sure that the JCPOA “will continue to be fully implemented by all, in all its parts.”

PressTV-Mogherini: EU to preserve Iran's nuclear deal

The European Union says it will make sure that the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six other countries “will continue to be fully implemented by all, in all its parts.”

Mogherini said the agreement was “a major achievement of European and international multilateral diplomacy that is delivering.”

Iran resolved to continue nuclear activities: UN envoy

Meanwhile, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo also said on Friday that the IAEA is the only qualified body to verify Tehran’s adherence to its commitments under the JCPOA, saying the country is resolved to continue its peaceful nuclear program.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to continue its nuclear activities in the fields of research, development and production of nuclear energy, including the possession of the complete national nuclear fuel cycle, for peaceful objectives,” Khoshroo said at a UN General Assembly session.

He added that the UN nuclear agency has repeatedly announced that Iran has honored its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA and said any other claim contrary to the IAEA would lack any value.

The Iranian envoy emphasized that the JCPOA is a part of the Security Council Resolution 2231 which is not open to renegotiations and “cannot be terminated unilaterally.”

Therefore, all members of the JCPOA must act in compliance of the deal and prevent any measure inconsistent with it, he said.

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