Iran officially reduces its commitments to the JCPOA

On the anniversary of the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, the Islamic Republic has announced that it will suspend implementation of some of its commitments under the JCPOA. Iran has set a 60-day deadline to implement commitments governing the banking and oil sectors.

The Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran issued a statement addressed to the countries participating in the nuclear negotiations, announcing the suspension of the implementation of some of the obligations foreseen in the nuclear agreement. The decision to revise the obligations and commitments foreseen in the JCPOA was taken in response to the intensification of sanctions on the country by the United States.

The official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, IRNA, published the text of the statement of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran on Wednesday, May 8. The statement stated that the Islamic Republic will “suspend some of its actions in the JCPOA agreement” as of May 8.

The explanation of this decision states: "In order to protect the security and national interests of the Iranian people, and in exercising its rights as stipulated in Articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA, Iran will suspend some of its actions under the JCPOA as of today, May 8, 2019."
The decision to suspend the implementation of some of the requirements foreseen in the nuclear agreement has been announced by the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic.

Criticism of the inaction of the relevant countries

The aforementioned statement stated: "It has now been a year since the United States of America's illegal withdrawal from the JCPOA agreement and its violation of the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, and that country has reimposed its unilateral and illegal sanctions with complete bullying and contrary to all recognized international principles. This blatant bullying by the United States has unfortunately not been met with any appropriate and proportionate action by the Security Council or the remaining members of the JCPOA."

At the same time, it has been emphasized that this statement was sent by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to the heads of the JCPOA member states, including Germany, Britain, China, Russia, and France.

The statement states that the Islamic Republic of Iran has shown "extreme restraint" over the past year and has also provided sufficient opportunity for other members of the nuclear agreement to compensate for "the effects and consequences of the US withdrawal from the JCPOA" with their policies.

The statement criticized the inaction of the countries participating in the nuclear negotiations with Iran. The statement continued, explaining why Iran decided to suspend some of the obligations foreseen in the nuclear agreement: "Unfortunately, this goodwill and intelligent restraint of the Iranian people has remained unanswered, and apart from issuing political statements, no operational mechanism has yet been established to compensate for the US sanctions. Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran has no option other than 'reducing commitments' to secure its rights and restore balance to the demands of the parties in this agreement."

60-day deadline

The Islamic Republic has announced that, as of May 8, it will no longer be required to comply with restrictions on the storage of enriched uranium and heavy water reserves.

The Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic has given the remaining countries in the nuclear deal a 60-day deadline to implement their commitments, especially in the banking and oil sectors.

The statement further emphasized: "If the aforementioned countries are unable to meet Iran's demands within this deadline, in the next stage, the Islamic Republic of Iran will also cease compliance with the restrictions on the level of uranium enrichment and measures related to the modernization of the Arak heavy water reactor."

The Islamic Republic has also emphasized that if Iran's demands are met before the deadline, Iran will re-implement the policy of complying with the obligations foreseen in the JCPOA.

At the end of its statement, the Islamic Republic threatened: "The window that is now open to diplomacy will not be open for long, and the responsibility for the failure of the JCPOA and any possible consequences will lie entirely with the United States and the remaining members of the JCPOA."

The statement by the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran comes at a time when some European politicians have announced that if Iran fails to comply with the obligations foreseen in the nuclear agreement, the risk of sanctions returning cannot be ruled out.

Additional clerical explanations

Hassan Rouhani provided more detailed explanations about Iran's policies towards the nuclear deal at a meeting of the government council on Wednesday, May 8.

Rouhani said that starting on May 8, the Islamic Republic will take two steps in response to the sanctions. Iran has announced that the first step will involve selling excess enriched uranium production to other countries.

Under the nuclear deal, Iran was required to limit its stockpile of enriched uranium to 300 kilograms. The Islamic Republic of Iran was required to sell its excess uranium production to other countries and receive yellow cake in return.

The second measure, which will take effect on May 8, is the suspension of restrictions on Iran's heavy water stockpiles. Under the nuclear deal, Iran's heavy water stockpiles should not exceed 130 tons.

Iran was required to sell its heavy water to another country if it produced more than the specified amount. Therefore, the Islamic Republic has lifted these two restrictions.

The US government on Saturday refused to extend some of the waivers for nuclear cooperation with Iran, continuing its efforts to impose “maximum pressure” on the Islamic Republic. The waivers that were not renewed include the transfer of excess heavy water to Oman and the exchange of enriched uranium for yellowcake.

Rouhani emphasized in a government meeting that if the other countries involved in the nuclear deal fail to fulfill their commitments, the Islamic Republic will also lift restrictions on uranium enrichment and the modernization of the Arak heavy water reactors after the 60-day deadline.

It is worth remembering that the nuclear agreement had set the permitted level of uranium enrichment at 3.67%. Enriching uranium beyond the agreed level would effectively mean Iran's complete withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

Source: DW