Iran Threatens to Withdraw From Nuclear Deal That Has No Benefit
Alwaght- Iran has warned it may withdraw from a nuclear deal with six world powers if the Islamic Republic fails to reap benefits due to the “atmosphere of uncertainty” created by the US.
Speaking at Britain’s Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, in London, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi criticized US President Donald Trump over his threat to stop waiving anti-Iran sanctions, a US commitment under Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“If the same policy of confusion and uncertainties about the JCPOA continues, if companies and banks are not working with Iran, we cannot remain in a deal that has no benefit for us,” he said. “Trump has created an atmosphere of uncertainty which is like a poison for the business community in working with Iran.”
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.
Trump has repeatedly described the nuclear deal, as “the worst and most one-sided transaction Washington has ever entered into,” a characterization he often used during his presidential campaign, and threatened to tear it up.
The US president on January 12 reluctantly agreed to waive sanctions against Iran that were lifted as part of the landmark deal, but said it would be the last time he issued such a waiver unless his conditions were met.
Araqchi further said, “The deal would not survive this way even if the ultimatum is passed and waivers are extended.”
The Iranian official rejected Washington’s interpretation of the "sunset" clause in the JCPOA as wrong.
“There is no sunset clause in the JCPOA. Although the US administration and Trump are talking about sunset clause and that JCPOA is just for 10 years, that is not true,” he said. “Iran’s commitment in the JCPOA not to go for the nuclear weapons is permanent.”
