Jahangiri: Americans Against International Dialogue, Interaction

The first vice president said a recent bill passed by the US Senate to extend the Iran Sanctions Act shows Americans are not committed to international dialogue. 

"The US move against the JCPOA is a move against international dialogue and interaction," Es'haq Jahangiri also said on Sunday in reaction to what Iran has stressed is the failure of the US to comply with its obligations under last year's landmark nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed between Iran and six major powers. 

The US Senate recently voted to extend the ISA for another 10 years. The sanctions law, which would authorize the US president to reimpose sanctions on Iran, was first adopted in 1996 to punish investments in the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program and support for anti-Israeli resistance groups. 

The ISA now needs President Barack Obama's signature to become law. Jahangiri said the JCPOA was the result of Iran's "long and complicated negotiations" with six global powers, the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the European Union, Press TV reported. 

Stressing that the UN Security Council, the IAEA and the EU have all endorsed the pact, Jahangiri said the US lawmakers' vote to extend ISA was not only a move against the Iranian nation and administration, but also "against international agreements".

Jahangiri emphasized the importance of adopting "rational and prudent" approaches to counter such moves. Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council—the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia—plus Germany started to implement the JCPOA on January 16.

Under the deal, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related bans imposed against Tehran.

After the accord took effect in January, the IAEA, which monitors the deal's implementation process, has in numerous reports confirmed Iran's commitment to its obligations.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said in April that Iran had even gone beyond its obligations under the JCPOA.