Time for United Approach to Reap JCPOA Benefits

It is time for Iran to adopt a united approach to the 2015 nuclear deal to be able to reap its potential benefits to the fullest, said a Foreign Ministry report on the implementation of the agreement, knowns as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 
“National interests of the country require that foreign policy be unaffected by political and factional conflicts,” read the 262-page report to the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, ISNA reported. 
It described the JCPOA as the fruit of efforts at difficult times to free Iran of the United States’ securitization of the nuclear issue and cruel sanctions while maintaining the country’s nuclear capability, although within strict restrictions. 
“The agreement was reached following people’s overwhelming vote for the resolution of the nuclear issue through constructive and honorable interaction,” it said.  
The JCPOA was signed between Iran and the six world powers and placed curbs on the country’s nuclear program in return for the lifting of international sanctions. 
Despite Iran’s full compliance, US ex-president Donald Trump pulled Washington out in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions on Tehran as part of a maximum pressure campaign in hope of reaching a “better deal”.
Iran was then forced to row back on its commitments as the remaining parties also failed to safeguard its JPCOA interests.

Not Fully Exploited 

The situation could have been different, according to the report, if Iran had tried to make the best of the deal while it was in full shape instead of arguing whether it was an outright victory or a complete failure.
Effective exploitation of the JCPOA potential would have made it much more difficult for Trump to impose sanctions and maximum pressure on Iran, it explained. 
“All we needed was to be united and use all capacities to properly implement the country’s policy and welcome the JCPOA.”
Like any policy, the decision to sign the JCPOA, which was made by the country’s highest-level authorities, had strengths and weaknesses, the report said. 
While making comments and constructive criticism, opponents of a policy should not disrupt its implementation, it added. 
“Any policy can have benefits if it is properly put to practice, but if it faces conflicts over its nature during implementation, all the detriments pointed out by the opponents will definitely be realized and none of the possible benefits will be obtained.” 
The Foreign Ministry under President Hassan Rouhani, which managed to strike the nuclear deal, stressed in the document that no deal is flawless for all sides since an agreement is impossible without compromise. 
“Tendency toward maximum gain will only lead to prolonged and endless negotiations.” 
Following the arrival of a new president in the US, negotiations began in Vienna, Austria, to find ways to bring both sides back into compliance.   
Six rounds of talks have been held so far with significant progress, but the process is now halted as both sides need to make important political decisions. 
“Success in the current Vienna negotiations and the ultimate defeat of the maximum pressure with the US return to its JCPOA obligations could pave the way for better exploitation of the full potential of JCPOA in the new political landscape of the country,” the Foreign Ministry report said. 
It could bring about an unprecedented boom for the country and next generations by acknowledging relations with all partners and creating balance in foreign economic ties. 
“The 25-year plan with China, strategic relations with Russia, the policy of prioritizing neighbors and maximum use of the capacity of western countries’ commitments under JCPOA will shape such a future.”