China hails Iran, urges continued JCPOA implementation by all sides

The IAEA is tasked with monitoring Iranian compliance with the landmark deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The atomic agency has verified continued Iranian compliance in its latest report, which has been sent to IAEA members and obtained by the media, PressTV reported.

Addressing a regular press conference on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, “China has noted the latest report submitted by the IAEA director general, which once again confirmed Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA.”

“China welcomes that and commends the efforts made by Iran and the IAEA,” Hua said, adding, “We hope that all relevant parties could carry on with their implementation of the JCPOA, and that the IAEA could continue honoring its obligations with an objective, unbiased, and professional attitude.”

The IAEA report comes as the United States — a party to the deal that seems to want to withdraw — has been attempting to portray Iran as being in violation of the agreement.

It also came shortly after the US pressed the IAEA to request access to Iranian military sites for inspections, an attempt that was meant to undermine the deal. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley flew to IAEA headquarters in Vienna last week to personally lobby with the nuclear agency.

That attempt fell flat as the IAEA report came out; and IAEA officials — aware of US intentions to politicize the issue — later anonymously told Reuters that the agency was not going to request access to Iranian military sites.

“We’re not going to visit a military site... just to send a political signal,” said one IAEA official.

The agency has “had no reason to ask” for inspections of Iranian military sites, said a second.

The administration of US President Donald Trump is the only party to the deal that has been attempting to undermine it. Other parties, the UK, France, China, Germany, and Russia, all continue to strongly support it.