A lawmaker denounced the recent European proposal for new sanctions against Iran to satisfy US President Donald Trump, describing it as "ineffective" in saving the 2015 nuclear deal as it makes the accord less worthwhile for Tehran.
"Slapping fresh sanctions on Iran to persuade the United States to stay in the JCPOA has no benefit or advantage for us and will only inflict further damage on us. So that approach would be ineffective," Hossein Naqavi Hosseini said in a Saturday talk with ICANA.
Britain, France and Germany joined the US, Russia and China in negotiations with Iran that ultimately produced the nuclear accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
It placed temporary restrictions on Tehran's nuclear work in return for giving it relief from international sanctions.
Naqavi Hosseini's comments were in reaction to reports of a confidential document under which the three European parties have proposed new sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile program and its role in the Syria conflict.
The move is widely believed to be part of an effort to meet the conditions set by Trump for keeping the United States in the pact. A US walk-out would, in effect, dismantle the hard-fought UN-endorsed action plan.
The joint paper, seen by Reuters, was sent to European Union capitals on Friday, said two people familiar with the matter, to sound out support for such sanctions as they would need the support of all 28 EU member governments.
Trump has threatened he would not extend sanctions waivers on Iran on May 12, unless its "flaws" are fixed by that date.
The document, which came after weeks of talks between the administrations of the US and the three European countries, referred to sanctions that would "target militias and commanders".
It proposes building on the EU's existing sanctions list related to Syria, which includes travel bans and asset freezes on individuals, and a ban on doing business or financing public and private companies.
European Union foreign ministers will discuss the proposal at a closed-door meeting on Monday in Brussels, diplomats said.
While the EU retains some sanctions on Iranians over alleged human rights abuses, it rescinded its economic and financial restrictions on Iran under the nuclear agreement and does not want to be seen to be reneging on the agreement.
***Inconsistent Step
Naqavi Hosseini said the new sanctions would put the European signatories in breach of the deal.
"JCPOA was aimed to eliminate sanctions against Iran. Introducing new sanctions on us [under the pretext of] preserving the JCPOA is a violation of the action plan."
But the three powers have argued in the document that they are "entitled to adopt additional sanctions against Iran" as long as they are not nuclear-related or were previously lifted under the nuclear agreement.
Iranian officials have made it clear that they will stick to the deal as long as it is deemed to be serving national interests.
