Nuclear Accord a Major Achievement

A deputy foreign minister singled out the 2015 nuclear deal with major powers as the signature achievement of President Hassan Rouhani who is standing for reelection in the May 19 vote.

“Rouhani’s most important achievement in foreign policy was the JCPOA, which defused the Iranophobia plot by the enemies of the Islamic establishment,” Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in a speech to a pro-Rouhani gathering in Tehran on Thursday, IRNA reported.

JCPOA stands for the formal title of the accord, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

It took effect on January 16, 2016, to scale down Tehran’s nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions.

“As we all witnessed, [negotiations over] the nuclear dossier reached fruition only two years after the Rouhani administration assumed office,” said Takht-Ravanchi, who was also a member of Iran’s negotiating team.

He said the deal boosted Iran’s international image and enabled it to reengage actively with the international community.

“Rouhani successfully delivered on his pledge regarding foreign policy to establish a constructive interaction with the world and open the door to dialogue based on mutual respect and without the interference of our enemies in our internal affairs,” he said.

Takht-Ravanchi noted that although the action plan subjected Iran’s temporary curbs on nuclear work, it is considered a huge gain as it compelled the West to compromise on its original demand that Tehran’s nuclear program be shut down for good.

“The recognition of the [Iranian] nation’s rights, the continued operation of centrifuges, defeating the Iranophobia plot of hostile governments and breaking the wall of sanctions are among the major gains of JCPOA that helped facilitate Iran’s reengagement with the world,” he said.

The curbs imposed by the pact included cutting the number of centrifuges installed at Fordo and Natanz enrichment sites, cutting the enriched uranium stockpile below 300 kg and the fissile purity of 3.67%, and redesigning the Arak heavy water reactor.

Takht-Ravanchi added that thanks to the action plan, Iran is among the few countries capable of producing heavy water and is currently exporting it. The historic deal has turned out to be a key focus of a battle between moderate Rouhani and some of his rivals in the upcoming presidential election.

His challengers from the conservative camp have criticized the action plan for conceding too much to the western side and failing to extract the promised benefits, including the revival of the sanctions-hit domestic economy.