Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran envoy in Vienna

Vienna (IP) – Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative in Vienna stated the US must stop violating its obligations under the JCPOA deal and the UNSC Resolution 2231 without further delay and any pre-conditions.

Iran Press / Europe: Kazem Gharibabadi made remarks before the IAEA Board of Governors on verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015) and said:

"The United States initially violated UNSCR 2231 by unilaterally withdrawing from the JCPOA and adopting the failed "maximum pressure" policy and re-imposing sanctions to directly and adversely affect the normalization of trade and economic relations of the world with Iran, thus, made it impossible for the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue to implement its commitments under the JCPOA," Iran envoy stressed.

Lifting sanctions effectively constitutes the essential basis of Iran's consent to be bound by the deal's provisions. Thus the violations of the US rendered those parts of the deal void and effectively futile, Gharibabadi asserted.

US violations, EU negligence, resulted in Iran's Parliament law

According to the Iranian representative to Vienna, EU/E3 neither complied with their commitments nor provided practical solutions to rectify the deal's violation.

"This is while more than three years have passed since the illegal withdrawal of the US from the deal. Only in December 2020, the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran pass a law requiring the Government to stop implementing all verification and monitoring activities beyond Iran's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA), including the provisional implementation of the Additional Protocol (AP)," Gharibabadi pointed.

The requirements envisaged in the law were not met in the appropriate time frame, and as a result, the government of Iran was obliged to implement the law and the remedial measures therein.

West tries to replace the victim with the outlaw perpetrator

Kazem Gharibabadi said: "It is as if they misremember that Iran fully complied with its commitments under the deal while, due to the US outlaw behavior and actions and EU/E3's miserable negligence, was not and still is not benefiting from it. Apparently, they intend to displace the victim with the outlaw perpetrator."

Until sanctions not removed, no one should expect more from Iran.

"Regrettably, European states are still unwilling to condemn the illegal unilateral withdrawal of the US and re-imposition of its sanctions, which are the sole cause of all these problems, and to urge the US to resume implementing its commitments and lift its sanctions imposed against the Iranian nation, yet, presumptuously request Iran to implement its commitments under the deal," Iranian representative reminded. 

He added: "I would like to re-emphasize on this point that until the sanctions on Iran are not removed, no one should expect more forbearance from Iran. Our nuclear activities, including enrichment at different levels and production of metallic-based uranium fuel, are completely peaceful, in line with our rights under the NPT, and are under the safeguards monitoring and verification of the Agency." Iran's envoy stressed.

All Iran's nuclear activities were peaceful; We fulfilled our commitment completely.

"I sincerely advise these countries to abandon scapegoating and start rectifying their failure in implementing their commitments. Iran has fulfilled completely, in the past 3 years, its share of prudence and constructiveness,"

The statement also reads: Iran has engaged seriously and meaningfully in negotiations with the JCPOA participants to address the issues resulting from the U.S withdrawal. In this framework, as stated by our president and minister of foreign affairs, Iran believes that the negotiations should be result-oriented. The outcome of these efforts must ensure that all sanctions are lifted in an effective and verifiable manner.

Iran's commitments are beyond its obligations; the US must stop violating its obligations.

It has been said in the statement also that: "It is yet to be observed whether the current US administration is serious enough and ready to abandon the United States addiction to use unilateral coercive measures, respect international law, implement its sanctions lifting commitments fully and effectively, and take all necessary decisions that this might entail. The US must stop violating its obligations under the deal and the UNSC Resolution 2231 without further delay and any pre-conditions.

The Iranian official also said: "Needless to say, Iran's commitments under the deal are beyond its obligations. In this vein, Director General's report that the Agency's verification and monitoring activities have been seriously undermined should be seen in its appropriate context related to the obligations beyond CSA.

"In this context, it should be noted that data recording was a political decision by Iran to facilitate, including inter alia, the political talks and help its success. It should not be considered Iran's obligation about the Agency," he went on to say.

IAEA should address sabotages concerns in Iran's nuclear facilities

Continuation or discontinuation of recordings has nothing to do with Iran's Safeguards obligations. Undoubtedly any decision to be taken by Iran in this regard would only be based on its political considerations, and the Agency cannot and should not consider it as one of its entitlements, the Iranian envoy said.

"In the same vein, while one of the Agency's equipment has been destroyed in a sabotage act in one of the AEOI workshops, it is regrettable and puzzling that the Agency is requesting Iran to locate its remnants and to provide additional information as to the reasons for their absence, without setting out its position regarding acts of sabotage, Gharibabadi questioned.

He added: "The Agency should, alongside taking care of its inspectors, equipment, and verification activities, fulfill its responsibilities and obligations concerning terrorist sabotage acts against civilian and peaceful nuclear facilities of its member states. It is imperative to address this issue in the discussions on nuclear security to find effective measures to tackle the problem of sabotages in nuclear facilities. The Agency should decide to resolve this paradoxical approach and take a clear position in this regard."

"Nevertheless, I would like to inform the Board that due to Iran's goodwill during the Director General's visit on September 12, 2021, to Tehran and meeting with the Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Head of AEOI, the two sides agreed that the IAEA's inspectors would service the identified equipment and replace their storage media, which will be kept under joint IAEA and AEOI seals in the Islamic Republic of Iran," Gharibabadi concluded.

205/206

Read More:

Reviving JCPOA needs practical and verifiable lifting of US Sanctions