Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said words and promises about the 2015 nuclear deal are meaningless to Iran and it is only actions that count this time.
Addressing a group of people from the city of Tabriz on Wednesday, he said Iran has been given good pledges many times which were later betrayed and would only consider actions as the basis of its response now.
“If we see the other side’s action, we will act too,” he said, Leader.ir reported.
The nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was signed between Iran and the world powers and saw international sanctions on Tehran lifted in return for curbs on its nuclear program.
However, the United States withdrew in 2018 and reinstated the sanctions, practically jeopardizing Iran’s economic interests, especially as the European parties were also unable to meet their end of the bargain under American pressure.
The new US administration has vowed to rejoin the deal, but only after Iran reverses the countermeasures it took a year after the US pullout.
Tehran maintains that it is the US that must take the first step and remove all sanctions effectively, after which Iran would swiftly resume compliance.
“The Islamic Republic will not be convinced by words and promises this time,” the Leader said.
Only One Problem
Iran has been ramping up its measures beyond JCPOA limits in recent months as per a parliamentary legislation. The moves have raised concern among European countries who urge Iran to stop such acts to leave room for diplomacy.
President Hassan Rouhani said talking of Iran’s reduction of compliance or the new parliamentary law is only aimed at diverting attention from a bigger problem.
“There is no more than one problem and that is the cruel and wrong sanctions. If they lift these sanctions, everything will be resolved,” he said in a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, according to President.ir.
He added that Iran would only need a few hours to verify that the sanctions are practically lifted and would then return to meeting its JCPOA obligations immediately.
“[If] Americans take one step, we will take one step. If they take all steps, we will take all steps together,” he said.
The president noted that Iran does not favor obstinacy and is ready to return to this agreement as soon as the sanctions are lifted and the P5+1 (Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany) fulfill their commitments.
