Tehran Does Not Intend to Quit Nuclear Deal at This Stage

EghtesadOnline: Iran decided to halt some of its nuclear commitments to prevent the "total collapse" of its 2015 deal with world powers and its next potential steps will not constitute a breach of the agreement, says Tehran's ambassador in London.

News ID: ۷۴۷۳۶۹

19 May 2019

In a recent interview with BBC Radio, Hamid Baeidinejad added that the co-signatories' failure to fulfill their commitments under the deal and safeguard Iran's economic interests has damaged the "credibility" of the accord, IRNA reported.

"We want to rectify the shortcomings of the situation by suspending two particular measures under the nuclear deal," he said.

On May 8, the first anniversary of Washington's exit from the agreement, the Islamic Republic announced a halt to its sales of surplus enriched uranium and heavy water to other countries based on the legal mechanisms defined in the deal, according to Financial Tribune.

It also threatened to stop complying with some other elements of the agreement—formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action—unless the remaining participants find a way to protect the country's oil and banking industries from US sanctions in two months.

Asked about the ultimatum, Baeidinejad said Iran is determined to take further steps if the 60 days pass without action. "But I assure you that these steps are within the [bounds] of the JCPOA."

He added that Tehran has no intention of quitting the nuclear agreement at this stage, but it is an option that it would be studying in future.

"At this moment, we have decided to use the parameters within the JCPOA," he said, noting that Iran's move to scale back some of its commitments was meant to prompt the Europeans into action and prevent the "total collapse" of the pact.

Regional Peace

The envoy also noted that Iran is not seeking to escalate a standoff with the United States, but is prepared to stand against it if it takes further provocative measures.

“The Islamic Republic has always advocated peace and stability in the region,” he said, while criticizing US policies.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have intensified as US President Donald Trump's administration designated the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as a terrorist organization and stepped up sanctions pressure by ending waivers for some countries to purchase Iranian oil—part of efforts to roll back the country's regional influence.

The United States has also dispatched warships and bombers to the Middle East to deter what it claims are Iranian threats.

Baeidinejad maintains that the current situation provides an opportunity for Iran to diversify its sources of revenue beyond oil.

“Great progress has been made in this regard in recent years. We always say we can turn the challenges into opportunities," he said.

"We are now exporting other commodities like petrochemicals … so I can tell you that there is a silent revolution [happening] in the economy of Iran."