The signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran would never go along with the US plot to dismantle the high-profile agreement and revert to the pre-deal era, a former lawmaker said.
“It is impossible for the US to forge an anti-Iran consensus and go back to the pre-JCPOA situation,” Abbasali Mansouri Arani said in an interview with IRNA on Monday. JCPOA stands for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the formal title of the pact.
“Americans have been trying to anger Iran and push it to withdraw from the action plan through psychological warfare, excuses and adventurism,” Arani said.
The current US administration has adopted a harder line on Iran since it came to office in January.
Despite the removal of nuclear sanctions under the accord in exchange for time-bound restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear curbs, it has been hit with several round of US sanctions in the past few months over other excuses, including its missile development program. Iranian officials have threatened reciprocal action against the US hostile moves.
The US partners have rejected Trump’s hostile stance on the deal and have opposed his call for a full review of the pact.
“European countries will not back the US demand … neither will Russia and China,” Arani added.
He was referring to the five countries, namely Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, that joined the United States to negotiate the deal with Iran.
US State Department for the second time reaffirmed Iran’s adherence to the action plan last month, technically allowing the lifting of sanctions.
The department is required under the US law to notify the Congress every 90 days on Iran’s compliance.
Media reports have said Trump, unhappy with the performance of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, has assigned a White House team to ensure there will be no third certification of Iran’s adherence when the next 90-day notification is due.
