Iran Press/Iran News: The meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCOPA) Joint Commission in the presence of the diplomatic delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the P4+1 countries- including Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany as well as the Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, as the coordinator of the meeting – has started this Tuesday in Vienna.
In the talks of these meetings, Iran's conditions for the return of the parties to their obligations in the JCPOA will be examined after the practical lifting of all sanctions by the United States and the verification by the Iranian side.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, which has reduced its obligations by Paragraphs 26 and 36 of the JCPOA after the violation of the JCPOA-related commitments by the three European countries and the withdrawal of the United States from the deal, stresses in the talks it will not return to its previous obligations until all sanctions are lifted and it verifies the commitments.
In an interview with Kazem Gharibabadi, Ambassador and Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency and a member of the negotiating delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who is present at the Vienna talks, KHAMENEI.IR examines the latest positions and negotiations of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
What is the position of Iran regarding the return of the United States to the JCPOA?
The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the return of the United States to the JCPOA is that it was not the Islamic Republic of Iran that violated its obligations under the JCPOA; not only did Iran adhere to all its obligations under the JCPOA, but it was the United States that violated its obligations and pursued a hostile policy against the Iranian people; If the Americans want to return to the JCPOA, they must lift all sanctions in a practical way so that the Islamic Republic of Iran can verify them.
In fact, lifting sanctions on paper is not a formal issue for us, but observing the practical effects of lifting sanctions is very fundamental and important. Only then is the Islamic Republic of Iran ready to return to its obligations under the JCPOA.
Exactly how do we return to the JCPOA-related obligations?
The Islamic Republic of Iran is only ready to return to its obligations if, first, the United States removes all sanctions in practice, not on paper; and, second, the Islamic Republic of Iran verifies the lifting of sanctions and the effects of the lifting of sanctions.
What sanctions do we mean by lifting sanctions? The sanctions that Trump imposed or the sanctions that were in place?
The sanctions that need to be lifted are clear. First, all sanctions lifted based on the JCPOA, but reinstated by the US administration, must be lifted. Second, the Trump administration imposed some new sanctions in addition to those lifted under the JCPOA. These sanctions must also be lifted. Third, there are sanctions imposed on non-nuclear grounds. These sanctions must also be fully lifted.
This issue has been clearly stated in the talks, including in the Joint Commission by the Islamic Republic of Iran, that all these sanctions should be lifted.
If the US President signs the lifting of sanctions, is it possible that it will be lifted in practice? How can we be sure that oil and banking sanctions will be lifted?
For us, too, it is not the case that, for example, the President of the United States signs some executive orders to lift sanctions to assure us that the sanctions have indeed been lifted. Sanctions should not be lifted on paper but in practice. That is why the Supreme Leader of the Revolution also raised the issue of the fact of verification of the lifting of sanctions, and it became the policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and it is reflected and emphasized and followed up in various dialogues.
But the meaning of the verification is that, for example, in the field of oil sales, the Islamic Republic should be able to conclude its oil contracts, export its oil and transfer its revenue sources through banking channels or consider other uses for it. Or in the banking sector, it can perform its financial transactions through various financial channels. Only then can it be assured that the lifting of sanctions will have practical effects.
Given that the practical lifting of sanctions will be time-consuming, the return to JCPOA-related commitments will occur in the short term. So, Iran and the United States' simultaneous action means our advance, but the United States may break its promise again. In view of this, what measures should be taken not to allow the United States to break its promise again?
As for taking some measures to prevent the US from violating its promise, as is the policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, first, the US must lift all sanctions, and after verification, the Islamic Republic of Iran will return to its JCPOA commitments. Secondly, if the United States wants to make a promise later after its return to the JCPOA, this is an issue that is currently being raised in the talks, and it is being considered what should be done in the field of Iran's technical commitments and how these commitments should be fulfilled that if one of the parties did not follow a promise or did not fulfill its obligations subsequently, lest it be that only the Islamic Republic of Iran has already fulfilled its obligations. This is a topic that is under full technical scrutiny, and various options have been proposed.
Some have raised the issue of a step-for- a step action. Has this solution been discussed?
A step-for a step is not considered in any way in the talks and negotiations and has not been raised. What the Islamic Republic of Iran has put on the agenda of the talks and which is being pursued by the Joint Commission of the JCPOA is the full and effective return of all parties, including the United States, to their own JCPOA-related obligations; That is, the ultimate goal set out in the JCPOA is considered not to discuss, review and reach an understanding on "a step-for a step" measures.
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