Europe Has No Right to Criticize Iran's Nuclear Decisions

EghtesadOnline: Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday Europe has no right to criticize Iran's decision to reduce its compliance with the nuclear deal and pledged more cuts in the country's nuclear commitments.

News ID: ۷۴۷۸۹۷

17 July 2019

"We abided by our commitments under JCPOA and even beyond them, but now that we have started scaling back our commitments because of the Europeans' behavior, they brazenly oppose it," the Leader said during a meeting with Friday prayers leaders from across the country in Tehran, his website reported.

France, Britain and Germany called on Tehran on Sunday to bring itself back into full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, according to Financial Tribune.

"While we continue to support the JCPOA, its continuation is contingent on Iran's full compliance, and we strongly urge Iran to reverse its recent decisions in this regard," they said in a joint statement, the Independent reported.

In response to the US exit from the deal last year and Europe's failure to secure Iran's economic interests, Tehran announced in May that it will no longer respect the curbs set on the size of its stockpiles of enriched uranium and heavy water, and recently exceeded the maximum uranium enrichment level it had agreed to.

Citing Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Ayatollah Khamenei said Europe made 11 commitments under the nuclear accord but did not abide by even one of them.

"You, the Europeans, did not honor any of your commitments and have no right to ask us to meet our obligations. We have just started rolling back our commitments and this process will definitely continue," he said.

Iran has said it would keep reducing its commitments every 60 days, unless Europe upholds its side of the deal.

‘Act of Piracy’

In his speech, the Leader also criticized Britain's seizure of an Iranian oil tanker, calling it an "act of piracy" that would not remain unanswered.

The Grace 1 tanker was recently seized by British Royal Marines off the coast of the British Mediterranean territory of Gibraltar on suspicion of violating sanctions against Syria, Reuters reported.

Iran has called for the ship's release, denying that the tanker was taking oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions.

"Those whose evil nature is known to everyone have stolen our ship in an act of piracy and are trying to make it look like legal. However, those who have faith in the Islamic Republic's establishment will not leave such actions unanswered and will respond to it at the right time and place,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.