Araghchi: If Negotiations Fail, Iran Will Exit JCPOA
Abbas Araghchi says Iran will negotiate with the European side for a few more weeks to preserve the nuclear agreement, and if negotiations with Europe do not yield results within this period, Iran will withdraw from the JCPOA.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, expressed doubt about reaching an agreement he called a “European JCPOA” in light of the United States withdrawal from the JCPOA and the expiration of the agreement signed by the P5+1 with Iran. However, he said Iran will continue negotiations with European parties for a few more weeks. The continuation of negotiations after these weeks “depends on the system’s decision and how well negotiations have progressed.”
Araghchi said Sunday evening, June 27, 2019, in a special news interview program on Iran’s state television channel two, that two weeks have passed since the start of negotiations, and if negotiations with Europeans do not yield results within a few more weeks and Iran’s demands are not met, the country will withdraw from the JCPOA.
He clarified that with Iran’s exit from the nuclear agreement (JCPOA), “everything returns to its previous state and limitations are removed from Iran’s nuclear program, and Europe could also bring back unilateral sanctions and Security Council sanctions.”
The head of the Iranian delegation negotiating in the JCPOA Joint Commission says Europe has been asked to prepare an economic package that specifies practical solutions to meet Iran’s demands within the JCPOA and must clarify how they intend to compensate for the effects of American sanctions and the reinstatement of these sanctions.
Also, regarding oil sales, gas, and banking issues, the Europeans must concretely tell Iran what guarantees they are providing so that Iran remains in the JCPOA and benefits from it. These guarantees should be such that Iran is not faced with “breach of commitment, delay, and procrastination.”
Mohammad Javad Zarif’s deputy says Europe is facing two problems. The first problem is “political” and related to strategic partnership with the United States, which makes it difficult for Europe to distance itself from America. The other problem is “technical” and relates to the independence of the capitalist system in Europe and the fact that it is the boards of directors of companies that will make the final decision for dealings with Iran.
Araghchi said he is aware of Europe’s seriousness about cooperation with Iran but is not confident in their ability and, given the dominance of the dollar financial system in the international arena, it must be seen whether they can create a euro mechanism for economic and financial exchanges.
He called the United States withdrawal from the JCPOA a violation of Resolution 2231 and, in light of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s conditions, said that Europe must take action on this matter in the Security Council. The Supreme Leader has set conditions for Europe to preserve the JCPOA. He has, among other things, called for “issuing a resolution against the United States in the Security Council.”
Donald Trump, the U.S. President, who had repeatedly called the nuclear agreement with Iran “bad,” ultimately withdrew from the JCPOA. He considered this agreement to have serious “defects” and complained that it made no mention of Iran’s regional activities and missile program.
Europe, despite criticizing the United States’ unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA, has announced readiness for broader negotiations on Iran’s regional activities and missile program.
Araghchi, emphasizing that Iran is not prepared for these negotiations, denied reports about negotiations on missile issues and said: “We have only entered into negotiations on the Yemen issue with four countries—France, Britain, Germany, and Italy—and that too for humanitarian reasons and the plight of the Yemeni people, which is completely separate from nuclear negotiations, and Mr. Jaberi Ansari is following up on these negotiations.”
Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, who threatened Iran with “the most severe sanctions,” has called for, among other things, ending Iran’s support for Yemen’s Houthis as a condition for not imposing these sanctions. America has also called for new negotiations that would include Iran’s missile program. But Araghchi says missile issues are a red line for the Islamic Republic that it will not cross.
Abbas Araghchi emphasized that the JCPOA is also a political and security agreement and its collapse “weakens the entire non-proliferation system [of nuclear weapons] and of course will have security consequences for Europe.”
He also acknowledged that the JCPOA had economic benefits for Iran, oil sales increased, and Iran’s banking situation came out of deadlock, and Iran will “face problems with the return of sanctions.”
Source: DW
