Iran has called on the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, to abide by their obligations to preserve it after the United States walked away from the key international agreement.
“Other parties to the JCPOA, particularly the three European countries, are obliged to take the measures necessary to protect the deal, unconditionally fulfill their commitments—which they were unable to fully implement due to the troubles created by Trump when the US was part of the JCPOA, albeit on paper—and put their words into action,” President Hassan Rouhani’s Cabinet said in a statement, IRNA reported on Thursday.
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he was pulling out of the nuclear agreement drawn up after tremendous effort and hard work by Iran, the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany.
The US Treasury said on the same day that it will reimpose a wide array of Iran-related sanctions after the expiry of 90- and 180-day wind-down periods, including sanctions aimed at Iran's oil sector and the central bank, Reuters reported.
Under the accord, Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear program in return for relief from international sanctions.
Reciprocal Measure
In the statement, Cabinet members said Washington's decision lacks legal basis and that Tehran would pursue the US violation through the mechanisms enshrined in the landmark agreement.
Iran reserves the right to take a reciprocal measure if other parties fail to "compensate for" the US exit and its national interests are not fully served, they said.
However, the statement underlined full respect for its international commitments as long as Tehran’s conditions are met and made it clear that not even a single article in the deal can be renegotiated.
Constructive Engagement
It also reiterated the administration's policy of pursuing engagement with the world.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran…is keen to have constructive and respectful interaction with the world and—by implementing the JCPOA despite continuous breaches by the US—has proved that it is a reliable and committed partner for all those who are prepared to cooperate with it based on common interests and reciprocal respect."
In a joint statement following Trump's announcement, the leaders of Britain, Germany and France promised to stick to the deal and urged the US to avoid taking action which obstructs its full implementation by all other parties.
Germany's Pledge
In a telephone conversation on Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Rouhani that she supports maintaining the JCPOA as long as Tehran upholds its side of the deal, Reuters reported, citing her office.
Merkel also called for talks to be held in a broader format on Iran's regional activities and its ballistic missile program, which Tehran says is only for defensive purposes and not for negotiations.
The president told the German leader that "Iran's interests in regard to key issues related to the JCPOA, namely export of oil, gas and petrochemical products as well as banking transactions should be clearly stipulated and guaranteed," his official website reported.
Tehran has always advocated efforts aimed at promoting regional security, peace and stability and "does not seek new tensions in the region," the president said.
