Nuclear Accord Here to Stay, Despite US Hostility

President Hassan Rouhani said the Iran nuclear agreement's high global status makes it unlikely to unravel in the face of the US antagonistic policies.

"JCPOA will live forever in the political history of the region and the world, whether the current US administration likes it or not," the president told a gathering of US-based Iranian expatriates on Monday, President.ir reported.

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

Rouhani arrived in New York a day earlier for the annual United Nations General Assembly and is scheduled to address the UNGA's General Debate, a weeklong meeting of the world leaders, on its second day on Wednesday.

The action plan was brokered with Iran on July 14, 2015, by the administration of former US Democratic president, Barack Obama, and those of the other five powers to curtail Tehran's nuclear development in return for giving it sanctions relief.

But the deal has faced the fierce opposition of current US President Donald Trump, who seems to be using all means at his disposal to interfere with its implementation.

Iran's JCPOA commitments are being monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Its quarterly reports have all verified Iran's compliance.

Rouhani told reporters upon arrival in New York that despite the US aggressive stance, Iran has abided by its deal's commitments.

"The Iranian nation has proved under the action plan that it … will never lie and has always honored its commitments … We follow a strategy aimed at developing close cooperation with the world," he said.

Trump has vowed to either dismantle or renegotiate the landmark agreement but has come up short so far, due to resistance from some officials in its own administration as well as other signatories to the deal.

Iran's compliance has been certified twice by the Trump administration in its notifications to Congress, which are required every three months.

But the anti-Iran moves and rhetoric by the beleaguered president in recent weeks suggest that he might not sign off on a third certification at the next review in mid-October.

The Republican hawk has imposed a slew of sanctions against the Islamic Republic over alleged charges unrelated to the nuclear issue, including terrorism sponsorship and human rights abuses.

The latest round of such sanctions announced on Thursday targeted nine Iranian individuals and firms, and two Ukraine-based entities allegedly for contributing to Iran's ballistic missile program or its cyber attacks against the US financial system.

His administration has intensified its lobbying efforts to make IAEA seek access to Iranian military sites unrelated to the nuclear program for inspection.

The UN nuclear watchdog has withstood the demand and Iranian officials have ruled out giving any such access, which they regard as a matter of national security.

Foreign ministers from JCPOA's signatories are to convene on the sidelines of the New York event to discuss Tehran's complaint about the uncooperative US stance.