Iran Will Soon Reciprocate US Nuclear Pullout

EghtesadOnline: Iran plans to announce a series of "phased" measures in response to the US administration's pullout from the 2015 nuclear deal.

News ID: ۷۴۷۲۶۰

07 May 2019

The steps will be taken based on mechanisms stipulated in Tehran's international nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but will stop short of quitting the painstakingly negotiated deal, ISNA reported on Monday.

ISNA quoted unidentified informed sources as saying that President Hassan Rouhani will probably announce Iran's plans on Wednesday, which marks the anniversary of the US exit, according to Financial Tribune.

"The planned measures will be based on articles 26 and 36 of JCPOA," it said. "Partial or full termination of some commitments undertaken by Iran and resumption of part of nuclear activities halted under the JCPOA would be the first step in response to the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal and European countries' failure to fulfill their obligations."

Relations between Tehran and Washington have become increasingly tense since US President Donald Trump formally renounced the nuclear accord, in which his predecessor and five other powers granted Iran sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear program.

The US acted on Friday to force Iran to stop producing low-enriched uranium and expanding its only nuclear power plant, intensifying a campaign aimed at halting Tehran's ballistic missile program and curbing its regional power, according to Reuters.

The move was the third punitive action Washington has taken against Iran in as many weeks. It has said it would stop waivers for countries buying Iranian oil, in an attempt to reduce the OPEC producer's oil exports to zero. It also blacklisted the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.

Iran's Rights

Article 26 of the nuclear agreement states that Iran will treat a reintroduction or reimposition of specified sanctions or an imposition of new nuclear-related sanctions as "grounds to cease performing its commitments under this JCPOA in whole or in part".

Under Article 36, if a party believes that another signatory is not meeting its commitments, it can refer the issue to the Joint Commission set up to handle any complaints about the deal's implementation.

"If the issue still has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the complaining participant and if the complaining participant deems the issue to constitute significant non-performance, then that participant could treat the unresolved issue as grounds to cease performing its commitments under this JCPOA in whole or in part and/or notify the UN Security Council that it believes the issue constitutes significant non-performance."

European Union officials have been unofficially informed of Iran's decision, the report said.

However, it stressed, "The door to diplomacy remains open and Iran's phased measures would be a second chance for diplomacy and for the other side to move away from the wrong path of unilateralism and return to implementing the JCPOA in full."

Europe has so far remained united in its desire to protect the nuclear pact. It has chosen to oppose the United States and has taken countermeasures to ensure that their trade and investment in Iran are protected.

However, Iranian authorities say European efforts to salvage the accord and compensate for the US exit fall short of their commitments.