Iran Press/ Europe: In an interview with IRNA, Jack Straw said on Tuesday that it was clear to him that since the JCPOA had been signed by former US President Barack Obama, Trump had left. He described Trump's behavior as personal and regrettable, saying that a way should be found for this situation.
The former British foreign secretary, referring to the turmoil and defeat of Washington's policies in the Middle East, stated: "On one hand, Trump has withdrawn from the JCPOA and re-imposed sanctions on Iran, and on the other hand, he wants a new deal with Iran. This is while, he can see that his strategy in the Middle East has failed and his policies have led to the loss of US influence in the region."
Meanwhile, Jack Straw suggested that Iran and the US should work together to maintain the JCPOA, but in this interaction, much scrutiny and confidence-building negotiations would have to take place.
Asked whether Trump is willing to lift sanctions on Iran, Straw repeated the suggestion of backstage negotiations, explaining: "The Iranian president and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution have clearly stated that they will not negotiate under the humiliation of sanctions, and the Americans do not properly understand the Iranian national pride."
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The former British foreign secretary recalled that Trump left the JCPOA without any logic, and thus both sides should engage in behind-the-scene negotiations to bring him back to the deal.
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"If Trump seeks a new deal with Iran, he could find a way through these behind-the-scene negotiations. For example, to announce what steps he expects from Iran to lift sanctions against Tehran," he said.
Straw pointed out that this is the best way to manage the problem.
Responding to a question about the JCPOA's future, Straw said that he very well understands Iran's dissatisfaction with the deal, but in his view, it is important that Iran does not take further steps to reduce its commitments under the deal, so as not to give a pretext to the other parties.
"The JCPOA is a desirable deal, but not the best one, but it is a good deal for both sides, and the United States must come back," the former British foreign minister said. He continued: "If we look optimistically, by renaming the JCPOA we can pave the ground for the US' return to the deal."
Iran has begun the process of reducing its commitments to the JCPOA in three phases, following the US withdrawal from the deal and due to European countries' failure to honour their commitments under the nuclear deal.
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Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has recently warned that further steps will be taken if the parties fail to return to their commitments.
European governments, while claiming to adhere to the agreement, call for full implementation of Iran's obligations under the agreement.
In another part of the interview, the former British Foreign Secretary backed the Hormuz Peace Initiative, which was put forward by President Hassan Rouhani at the seventy-fourth session of the UN General Assembly and noted it is required to reach comprehensive security in the region.
At a UN annual gathering in New York, the Iranian president Hassan Rouhani called on all countries affected by the developments in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to join the 'Hormuz Peace Endeavor' or 'Coalition of Hope'.
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From Rouhani's perspective, the Coalition of HOPE aims to promote peace, stability, prosperity, and progress for all residents of the Strait of Hormuz, and mutual understanding and peaceful and friendly relations between them. The initiative encompasses various areas of cooperation such as public energy security, freedom of navigation of ships and free movement of oil and other resources to and from the Strait of Hormuz and beyond.
"The Persian Gulf littoral states must enter into a new security agreement that guarantees free shipping in international waters," said Jack Straw.
"The Iranian President's plan must be endorsed by all the Persian Gulf states, especially Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and they understand that this will be in their favor," he said.
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