The landmark nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers signed in 2015 remains a diplomatic achievement even after the United States’ withdrawal, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says. He made the comments in a post on his official Twitter account late on Sunday, which marked the third anniversary of the conclusion of the deal. “On 3rd anniversary of JCPOA, it remains a triumph of multilateral diplomacy despite US actions,” he said, using the abbreviation for the accord’s official name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Zarif, one of the architects of the nuclear deal, criticized US President Donald Trump’s unilateral moves and his disregard for international norms and commitments, saying that Washington is not a reliable negotiating partner. “While we knew the US can’t be trusted to keep its word—as its allies have now realized — the JCPOA proves that toxic unilateralism of the Trump administration means it can’t be relied upon to honor any deal,” he said. Washington announced in May it was imposing new economic restrictions on Tehran after pulling out of the agreement, under which Tehran had agreed to curb its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. The deal was signed between Tehran and six major powers, namely the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.
