Russian MFA:
US return to JCPOA shouldn’t cause its revision

Washington’s return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) should not be linked to any additional obligations or be made a reason to review the deal, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday.

Iran PressEurope: "We take the position that once the United States returns to compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA, it should become neither a bargaining chip nor a pretext to revise the deal. Nor should additional obligations be imposed on Iran and the other parties to the agreement. There is no need to overcomplicate and reinvent anything. We should strictly follow the letter of the JCPOA," the ministry noted.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the endurance of JCPOA was put to a test by Washington in 2020.

"Despite regular, sanctions attacks by the United States, the nuclear agreement endured," the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

Apart from that, the ministry pointed out that Iran’s nuclear activity remains under the constant supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"All the steps taken recently by Tehran, including the enrichment of uranium to 20% and the preparation of infrastructure for the production of metallic uranium were conducted under the strict supervision of the Agency’s inspectors."

Referring to the fact that Iran's nuclear program is exclusively peaceful, the statement concluded that IAEA inspections make it possible to verify that this is the case.

Following the unilateral and illegal withdrawal of the United States from the IAEA on May 8, 2018, Iran tried to maintain the nuclear agreement, provided that the other parties to the agreement complied with their obligations, but the Europeans failed in the practical measures promised to maintain the agreement.

In such circumstances, the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced on May 8, 2019, on the anniversary of the US withdrawal from JCPOA, that Iran would gradually scale back on its obligations under Articles 26 and 36 of the agreement to balance its obligations and rights.

On Sunday, January 5, 2020, the Iranian government announced the fifth and final step in reducing the obligations of the Islamic Republic in JCPOA.

According to Articles 26 and 36 of JCPOA, Iran has the right to suspend its commitments, in whole or in part, if the other party fails to comply with its obligations.

Iran has stressed that it was ready to return to its commitments if sanctions were lifted and Iran benefited from the deal.

The Islamic Republic has also stated that it would not accept any new conditions or demands from the United States.

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