Nuclear Accord Could Hold Without US

The Austrian envoy to the United Nations said the Iran nuclear deal could stand even if the United States withdrew from it.

In an interview with IRNA published on Tuesday, Jan Kickert denounced as “wrong and unjustifiable” a possible move by the US administration to decertify Iran’s compliance with the deal, Press TV reported.

The administration of US President Trump has repeatedly attacked the agreement. While it has twice certified Iranian compliance with the deal in notifications to the US Congress under its domestic law, it is widely expected not to issue a third verification due later this week.

“If the US decides to impose new sanctions against Iran, this move will not only be regarded as a violation of the spirit of the JCPOA [the nuclear deal] but also a flagrant violation of the letter,” he said.

Kickert hoped that the possible reimposition of sanctions by the US would not disappoint Iran and that Tehran would remain in the deal.

“In case Iran remains a party to the deal, European countries will do that, too, and the agreement will continue to stand,” he declared.