Trump Signs Executive Order for US Withdrawal from JCPOA

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, signed the document for his country’s withdrawal from the JCPOA and said he would soon issue an order to reinstate sanctions against Iran. Hassan Rouhani also said that from this moment, the JCPOA agreement is between Iran and five countries.

The US President, after concluding his remarks in front of the White House, signed the executive order to withdraw from the JCPOA, stating that America is leaving the agreement.

Parts of Trump’s speech about the JCPOA:

• The people of Iran deserve a government that can respect their aspirations. The leaders of Iran say they will not be willing to negotiate again, but that is not true; they will seek a lasting agreement, and when they are ready to do so, I will also be ready to negotiate with them.
• We all speak with one voice in our determination to prevent Iran’s access to nuclear weapons. Within the framework of this rotten agreement, we cannot do this.
• America is leaving the JCPOA and I will soon issue an order to reinstate sanctions against Iran. No one can take America hostage.
• My action today is a very important message. America does not make empty promises.
• We all speak with one voice in our determination to prevent Iran’s access to nuclear weapons. Within the framework of this rotten agreement, we cannot do this.
• The nuclear agreement could not stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Iran’s bloody ambitions became only more brazen after this agreement.
• The agreement was supposed to protect America’s security against nuclear madness on paper, but in practice, the JCPOA brought Iran to the threshold of acquiring nuclear weapons.
• We have irrefutable evidence that Iran’s promises were lies. Last week, Israel showed documents that Iran had been seeking nuclear weapons.
• I want to inform the world of our efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The Iranian government is at the forefront of supporting terrorism.
• The Iranian government has supported chaos and terrorism by plundering the resources of its own people and nation.
• Donald Trump, President of the United States, reacted sharply hours ago to the conversation between Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister, and John Kerry, the former US Secretary of State on Twitter.
• Trump wrote on his Twitter that John Kerry cannot deny the fact that he had the opportunity but squandered it.
• Trump added, John, step back from the negotiations, you are harming your country.

Hassan Rouhani’s Response to America’s Withdrawal from the JCPOA

Immediately after the end of Donald Trump’s speech, Hassan Rouhani appeared on Iranian state television and reacted to the US President’s decision.

Parts of Hassan Rouhani’s remarks:

• Tonight we witnessed an important historical experience. In the same speech that we have been saying and repeating for the past forty years, and that is that Iran is a country that is faithful to its commitments and America is a country that has never been faithful to its commitments.
• The past forty years of history and even before that have well told us that the Americans have always behaved hostilely toward the great nation of Iran and the peoples of the region. From the coup against the legitimate government of Mossadegh, support for Saddam, as well as the downing of a civilian aircraft and the killing of innocent people by an American warship, and actions against the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, the Middle East and North Africa.
• The Americans announced tonight that they have withdrawn from the JCPOA.
• The Iranian people, according to the admission of the International Agency, have been faithful to their commitments. The Iranian government has complied with all its commitments in the JCPOA, but today we witness who is the country that does not respect international commitments. The JCPOA was not an agreement between Iran and America that America could announce it is withdrawing from. The JCPOA was a multilateral and international agreement. The JCPOA was approved by the UN Security Council. Therefore, America announced tonight that it does not respect international commitments.
• We will not allow Trump to succeed in a psychological war or economic pressure on the Iranian people.
• If necessary, we will begin our industrial uranium enrichment. We will wait a few weeks before implementing this decision and will consult with our friends and allies and those who are faithful to their signatures. Everything depends on securing our national interests.
• From this moment, the JCPOA agreement is between Iran and five countries. From this moment, five plus one has lost one. We must wait and see how the six major countries of the world will act. I have ordered the Foreign Ministry to conduct necessary consultations and negotiations within a few weeks with three European countries, China, and Russia. If within this short period we reach the conclusion that we can guarantee our interests within the framework of the JCPOA and despite America and Israel’s views and Trump’s impolite remarks tonight, within the framework of the JCPOA, we will remain in the JCPOA. And if not, I will soon speak with the Iranian people and inform them of the system’s decisions.
• Our people should have no concerns. We reached the conclusion weeks ago that Trump would not be faithful to the JCPOA and based on that we made the necessary economic decisions. Currency decisions will be made on this basis.
• We will well provide the currency needed by the country in future conditions. We will not have any shortage in essential and necessary goods for the people.
• We will not allow Trump to succeed in a psychological war or economic pressure on the Iranian people.
• If necessary, we will begin our industrial uranium enrichment. We will wait a few weeks before implementing this decision and will consult with our friends and allies and those who are faithful to their signatures. Everything depends on securing our national interests.
• I assure the nation that the government has been preparing itself for all circumstances for months and we will not face any acute problems. Our people will not feel problems in their daily lives in the days, months, and years to come.
• Tonight I am sorry that the American people, who are a great people, have fallen victim to a leadership that has trampled on their dignity, and on the other hand, I am glad that a troublesome creature has withdrawn from the JCPOA.

Source: DW