JCPOA Panel to Meet on July 21

A panel that monitors the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers will convene later this month to discuss Iran's grievances over the US uncooperative approach toward the pact, a nuclear negotiator said.

Under the historic accord, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, international sanctions on Tehran were eased in return for time-bound constraints on its nuclear program.

The commission, which comprises representatives from Iran and other parties to JCPOA, namely the US, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany collectively known as P5+1, is tasked with monitoring the nuclear accord and addressing any dispute over its implementation.

"The harsh stance of the new US administration and rhetoric [by its officials] against JCPOA would be among serious issues we will raise in the next meeting of the Joint Commission … which is due to be held on July 21," Abbas Araqchi was quoted as saying by IRNA on Tuesday.

The deputy foreign minister made the remarks before a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Ryabkov, in Tehran to discuss a range of issues, including those to be discussed during the panel's meeting.

US President Donald Trump is an outspoken critic of JCPOA, negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama, and has called for its "full review".

***No Alternative

Ryabkov reaffirmed Russia's call on the US to stick to its commitments under the action plan.

"We still caution the Washington administration that there is no alternative to the JCPOA and it should be safeguarded by the US and other parties," the Russian diplomat told reporters after the meeting.

Commenting on an upcoming trip of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to New York for a UN forum, Araqchi said, "He will hold separate talks with officials from P5+1 members and other countries."

He added that the Iranian delegation does not intend to sit down with the American side unless the need arises only to discuss JCPOA.

Despite the sanctions relief, Iran remains on the US State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism for its support of anti-Israel groups and is still subject to non-nuclear sanctions, including for alleged human rights abuses and for its backing of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government.

Since entering office, Trump has used these allegations to impose several rounds of new sanctions on Iran.