Call for Reform in US Unconstructive Approach

EghtesadOnline: The new administration of the United States is adopting the same unlawful approaches of the previous government toward Iran, according to a senior diplomat who called for the reform of this “unconstructive” course of action.

News ID: ۷۸۶۰۲۶

16 February 2021

“Unfortunately, the maximum pressure and crime against the Iranian nation and disregard of commitments and international law by the US still continue,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a regular press briefing on Monday.

He said what is happening today is no different than before January 20 when President Joe Biden took office, calling it a “shame” for those who ran their election campaign based on the promise of distancing from the lawless policies of former US president Donald Trump.

“We think the sooner these [US] sanctions are removed effectively, the smoother the future path will be,” he said.

Trump pulled the US unilaterally out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and reimposed sweeping sanctions on Tehran.

Biden has said he would rejoin the accord, but has taken no step back toward its JCPOA commitments so far.

Recent reports have shown that Iran has been able to sell more oil since Biden’s inauguration, signaling a possible moderation of US sanctions on Iran’s petroleum sector.

Khatibzadeh dismissed the speculations, stressing that “nothing has happened” regarding the US return to its JPCOA commitments.

“But that doesn’t mean we have not used all our channels to guarantee people’s interests and [supply their] needs,” he said.

Principled Diplomacy

Biden has conditioned Washington’s return to compliance on Iran’s reversal of the countermeasures it took a year after the US pullout.

Iran, on the other hand, maintains that it will return to full compliance only once it verifies that the US sanctions are completely and effectively revoked.

“If Americans adopt principled diplomacy, which means a return to multilateralism, fulfillment of commitments and correction of the wrong and failed past methods, Iran will respond proportionally,” Khatibzadeh said.

In recent months, Iran has ramped up its steps beyond the deal’s limits as per a parliamentary legislation, including enrichment to 20% purity and production of uranium metal.

The latter has raised serious concern among the three European parties to the deal, namely France, Britain and Germany, who urged Iran to stop the measures in a statement on Friday.

“The three European countries have a simpler way to end the tensions and that is to return to their JCPOA commitments,” the diplomat said.

Europe has failed to meet its obligations due to US pressure and its half-hearted measures to counter the sanctions have been fruitless.

Khatibzadeh also explained that uranium metal is an essential substance for the production of advanced fuel for Tehran Research Reactor and is no reason for worry.

Uranium metal can be used to build nuclear weapons, an objective Iran has always denied seeking, stressing that its nuclear program is aimed at peaceful purposes.