Zarif to CNN: US is violating JCPOA

EghtesadOnline: Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that Iran has implemented the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) faithfully, fully and completely but 'the US failed to implement its part of the bargain.'

News ID: ۷۴۲۸۰۳

17 July 2017

Zarif, who is currently in New York to attend the UN High Ranking Political Assembly made the remarks in an interview with Farid Zakaria from the US news network, CNN.
Responding to a question about accusing Iran of non-compliance with the deal Zarif said, “When we negotiated the deal, we decided to make the IAEA the only accepted body to monitor the implementation of the nuclear side of the deal and the IAEA has on seven occasions verified Iran’s full compliance under the deal, IRNA reported.

“Iran has implemented the deal faithfully, fully and completely but unfortunately we cannot make the same statement about the United States,” Zarif stressed.

Referring to an example of US violations of the nuclear deal, Zarif said that President Donald Trump used his presence in the G20 Meeting in Hamburg to dissuade leaders from other countries not to engage in business with Iran and that is a “violation of not the spirit but the letter of JCPOA.”

“I believe the United States needs to bring itself into compliance with its part of the obligations under the deal.” Zarif Stressed.

Iran has fulfilled its commitments under the deal and this has been verified by the IAEA which is the only responsible body to monitor the implementation of the deal, Iranian top diplomat said.

The nuclear deal does not prevent Iran from continuing with its peaceful nuclear program and the deal is very clear and recognizes Iran’s right to engage in enrichment for peaceful purposes, he said, opining that it is a realization that this is a knowledge had been acquired domestically and this cannot be taken away from Iran.

Iran clinched a landmark nuclear deal with world six major powers, namely the US, China, Russia, France, and Britain plus Germany, in July 2015 which placed restrictions on its nuclear program in return for relief from international sanctions.