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Iran’s UN Envoy Tells Haley: Stop Ranting

The hardline positions adopted by senior US officials against Iran could further exacerbate instability in the region
Gholamali Khoshrou
Gholamali Khoshrou
The US envoy's rhetoric represents the latest example of provocative words, outright threats and irresponsible actions by the US administration to demonize Iran and undermine the nuclear deal

Iran's UN envoy denounced recent hostile remarks by his US counterpart, which he said were only the latest in a barrage of "provocative" comments and accusations by US officials meant to undermine Iran's global image and the nuclear deal.

"The 15th August press statement by US ambassador to the UN [Nikki Haley] on Iran is devoid of any shred of truth," Gholamali Khoshrou said in a statement published by IRNA on Friday.

"The rhetoric and baseless accusations against Iran contained therein represent the latest examples of a series of provocative words, outright threats and irresponsible actions from some senior officials of the US administration in demonizing Iran and undermining the JCPOA inconsistent with the US commitments under paragraph 28 of the nuclear deal," he said.

JCPOA stands for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the official name of the accord negotiated between Iran and the US as well as five other major powers, namely the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany.

It was announced on July 14, 2015, and took effect six months later to ease international sanctions against Tehran in exchange for rolling back its nuclear development. Haley said Iran must be held responsible for its missile launches, alleged support for terrorism and violations of human rights and UN Security Council resolutions.

"Iran cannot be allowed to use the nuclear deal to hold the world hostage ... The nuclear deal must not become 'too big to fail'," She said in her Thursday statement, adding that fresh US sanctions President Donald Trump signed into law last month were unrelated to the nuclear agreement.

She was responding to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who had said earlier in the day that Iran could quit the pact "within hours" if the US imposes any more new sanctions.

Article 28 of the deal commits senior government officials of all parties to "make every effort to support the successful implementation of this JCPOA, including in their public statements".

It bans the power nations from "imposing exceptional or discriminatory regulatory and procedural requirements in lieu of the sanctions and restrictive measures covered by JCPOA".

Khoshrou warned the US administration about the consequences of what he said was the repeat of "past mistakes".

"Instead of distorting the recent remarks of President Rouhani, the US ambassador should heed the lessons of history and counsel some of the US administration officials to avoid repeating past mistakes … Those who attempt to revert to language of sanction and threat are prisoners of their past delusions, and by fear-mongering and antagonizing they would only deprive themselves from the benefits of peace," he said.

"The hardline and parochial positions adopted by certain senior US officials against Iran could further exacerbate instability in the region," he added.

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