Call for Responsible European Approach to JCPOA Commitments

A senior Iranian diplomat called on European countries to meet their commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal in a responsible manner instead of making accusations against the Islamic Republic. 
“European countries … must be answerable about their delinquency with regard to the JCPOA,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said at a regular press conference on Monday, IRNA reported. 
He used the acronym for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the landmark deal that offered sanctions relief to Tehran in return for curbs on its nuclear program. 
The agreement has been unravelling since the United States pulled out in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions that prompted Tehran to scale back its commitments in response. 
Kanaani expressed regret that the US unilaterally quit the JCPOA and European parties, namely France, Germany and Britain, known as the E3, refused to meet their obligations under the pact and failed to compensate for the US absence despite their vows. 
“We believe that the three European countries have violated the JCPOA as much as the US, and must be held accountable,” he said. 
It is “completely illegal and unacceptable” that despite this situation, they act as claimant and make accusations against the Islamic Republic, he added. 
The remarks appeared to come in reference to a statement by the E3 following a UK-chaired United Nations Security Council session on Iran’s implementation of Resolution 2231 that enshrines the JCPOA. 
In the statement, the three powers accused Iran of violating the resolution, citing the country’s nuclear activity, missile development and alleged weapons proliferation. 
Britain separately said it would create a new sanctions regime for Iran that would widen the scope of criteria that the government could cite in bringing new designations in future.
The E3 had also earlier hinted at plans to keep in place EU sanctions related to ballistic missiles development and trade or transfer of drones and their components which are set to expire in October under the terms of the JCPOA. 
Kanaani said any new sanction based on unfounded allegations is completely rejected.
“Iran mutually reserves the right to show serious and proportionate reaction to any irresponsible move at the appropriate time,” he said. 
Unilateral sanctions have been constantly used against Iran by the US and its European allies as an illegal tool, the spokesman noted, adding that resorting to these bans is a violation of human rights, as well as the legal rights of the Iranian nation.  
He decried such hostile measures by Europe, calling them “unconstructive” and “a move in a completely futile course.” 
“The US and Europe have been moving along this line for years, hence disrupting and rendering inefficient a multilateral framework for the settlement of important differences,” he said. 

Illegitimate Mission 

Kanaani was later asked about the fact-finding mission that was set up by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate alleged human rights violations in Iran related to the protests that began last September. 
He said the western countries move to push for the establishment of this so-called fact-finding commission is a clear example of “politicizing human rights” and “objectification of UN human rights mechanisms.” 
“Since the beginning, Iran considered the formation of a fact-finding commission illegitimate and declared that it would not recognize such a mechanism,” he said. 
Iran sent a delegation to the latest session of the HRC, where members heard the first oral update of the fact-finding mission, and seriously rejected the reports of the said commission, according to Kanaani. 
Protests began in Iran in September 2022 following the death of a young girl in police custody, but later turned into violent clashes between rioters and security forces that claimed the lives of about 200 people, according to Iranian sources. 
Western countries blamed the Islamic Republic for what they called a crackdown on peaceful protesters, and imposed several rounds of new sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities on alleged human rights grounds. 
Iran dismissed the allegations, blaming the enemies for provoking violence among rioters to advance their political agenda. 
Nevertheless, a committee was established by order of President Ebrahim Raisi to investigate the incidents. 
“With a domestic mechanism in the country, setting of a fact-finding mission by western countries is illegal and illegitimate,” the spokesman said.