The full implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal can be resumed if western parties demonstrate the credible political will to that effect, Iran’s top negotiator said on the fifth anniversary of the United States’ exit from the accord.
Ali Baqeri Kani stressed in a tweet that the deal’s complete reimplementation will have “effective sanctions lifting at its core” and hinges on the political determination of the US, as “the reneging party”, as well as the European Union and France, Germany and Britain, known as the E3.
“No opportunity is forever!” he added.
The 2015 deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was signed to restrict Iran’s nuclear activity in return for sanctions relief, but the US pulled out in 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions that prompted Tehran to react by scaling back its commitments.
Baqeri Kani said the US “rendered a fatal blow to the rule of law at the international level by unlawfully withdrawing from the JCPOA” five years ago.
“Ever since, the US has failed to reverse its wrongful act,” he said.
Negotiations began in early 2021 to work out how both sides could resume compliance, but have been stalled since August, with both sides blaming each other for the stalemate.
Former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is known as the architect of the JCPOA, also marked the anniversary of the US withdrawal in a tweet, blaming Washington for “torpedoing a unique diplomatic achievement.”
“With no alternative, US has jeopardized the interests of all—especially Americans and Iranians,” he said. “The outcome of abandoning shared opportunities in favor of zero-sum delusions.”
Constructive Initiatives
Tehran has been expressing readiness to finalize the deal based on the latest draft, but US officials have been saying that the nuclear negotiations are no longer Washington’s top priority with Iran.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell recently said that the JCPOA is important for the bloc, and that it would expend efforts for the return of all sides to the agreement.
He made the remarks in a phone conversation with Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian, who said Iran will always welcome constructive initiatives.
Borrell put forward what he called a “final” text in August, which went back and forth between Tehran and Washington for some time without an outcome.
Iran submitted its additional views and considerations, which was not well received by the West who called it “unconstructive” and “a step backwards”, while Tehran maintained the amendments were aimed at removing any ambiguity to prevent future misinterpretation.
The three European powers later issued a statement, questioning Iran’s intention and commitment to conclude negotiations.
They said the coordinator made additional changes in this final package that “took us to the limit of our flexibility.”
“Unfortunately, Iran has chosen not to seize this critical diplomatic opportunity,” the E3 contended at the time.
In the alterations, Tehran reiterated a key demand for the conclusion of investigations by the International Atomic Energy Agency into nuclear material allegedly found in three undeclared sites.
Iran insists that the file is based on fabricated information and must be closed before a deal is signed so that such allegations would not disrupt the implementation of JCPOA in the future.
Tehran also demands a full and verifiable removal of sanctions, as well as guarantees for compensation if a future US government ever wishes to quit the deal again.
The US says it cannot give assurances that future US governments would comply because the deal is a political understanding rather than a legally binding treaty.
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