Iran Threatens to ‘Halt Implementation’ of JCPOA if US Reimpose Nuclear Sanctions

Following a UN Security Council meeting on the JCPOA on Wednesday, June 26, Iran’s representative to the organization warned in a statement that Tehran would suspend implementation of the JCPOA if the United States reimpose sanctions.

The Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported on Thursday, June 27, that in a statement by Gholamali Khoshroo, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, described the “reimposition” of US sanctions as the starting point for “halting implementation” of Iran’s commitments.

The statement read: “It is Iran’s inalienable right to… make the reimposition of nuclear sanctions by the United States the basis for halting the implementation of its commitments under the JCPOA, in whole or in part.”

The UN Secretary-General confirmed on Wednesday in his report to the Security Council that the Islamic Republic has remained committed to the nuclear agreement.

In a report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, it was emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed for the twelfth time Iran’s adherence to the nuclear agreement, and Tehran has voluntarily allowed inspections of other facilities under the Additional Protocol.

However, Secretary-General Guterres also called on Iran to address and respond to international community concerns about its missile program, namely activities in violation of the restrictions and prohibitions of “Annex B” [Resolution 2231].

In part of “Annex B” of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which was issued in endorsement of the JCPOA, Iran was called upon to refrain for eight years from activities related to ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Although Islamic Republic officials have consistently denied that Iran has engaged in developing missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Iran’s permanent representative made no reference to this part of the UN Secretary-General’s remarks in his latest statement.

Gholamali Khoshroo focused solely on the JCPOA in his statement and considered Iran’s reaffirmed commitment to the agreement in the Security Council as evidence of “the isolation of the United States.”

Iran’s UN representative also called for the United States to be “held accountable for this unlawful action in violation of the UN Charter and principles of international law.”

He stated: “The United States’ unilateral and unlawful action in withdrawing from the JCPOA entails international responsibility and is indicative of a gross violation of US commitments and blatant non-compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2231.”

Donald Trump, a staunch critic of the nuclear agreement that was officially concluded in summer 2015, ultimately withdrew from the agreement for various reasons, including the time-limited nature of the JCPOA, Iran’s activities in the region, and its missile program.

However, Iran’s threat to withdraw from the JCPOA in case of renewed US sanctions comes at a time when US pressure on Iran’s oil customers is intensifying daily.

On Tuesday of this week, a US State Department official said that Washington has asked Iran’s oil-buying nations to reduce imports of Iranian oil to zero starting in November.

A day later, Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, in a meeting with India’s prime minister, asked the Asian country to cut its dependence on Iranian oil.

Previously, in the past two months, several major European and Asian companies that had gone to Iran in the past two years announced that they were forced to leave Iran to avoid US penalties.

Source: Radio Farda