Iran Press/ Europe: Donald Trump's administration announced on Wednesday that it was ending the waivers because of a series of what it called 'escalatory actions' by Iran aimed at pressuring the United States, which pulled out of the accord in 2018.
But the EU's Josep Borrell highlighted the 'enduring importance' of the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) because it was vital to ensure that Iran's nuclear activities remain above board.
"The agreement remains the best and the only way to ensure the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program," Borrell told in a United Nations Security Council meeting on Europe-UN relations, adding: "This is why I regret yesterday's decision by the US not to prolong the waivers for the JCPOA-related nuclear projects.
He added: "This will make it more difficult for the international community to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program."
Iran has taken small steps away from its nuclear commitments in a bid to get Washington to remove sanctions as called for by the 2015 accord.
Trump quit the agreement negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama, under which Iran had drastically curbed its nuclear activities.
But the Trump administration until now had issued waivers to allow companies, primarily from Russia, to keep carrying out the work of the agreement without risking legal ramifications in the world's largest economy.
Iran's UN ambassador said that by ending the waivers, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was pulling the "final plug" on the nuclear deal two years after Trump withdrew the US from it.
"Claiming the US is still 'Participant' is not just preposterous; it's false," the envoy Majid Takht Ravanchi tweeted.
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Claiming US as JCPOA participant is not just preposterous; but false
The envoy was referring to Washington's claim that it remains a participant in the deal, despite renouncing it, and can push to extend an arms embargo on Iran due to begin expiring in October.
Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi referred to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's decision to end sanctions waiver on JCPOA-related projects in Iran, saying US has pulled the final plug-in violating UNSCR 2231.
"Two yrs ago @realDonaldTrump ceased participation in #JCPOA. Now, in further violation of JCPOA & UNSCR 2231 @SecPompeo pulls the final plug, imposing penalties for compliance EVEN w/nuclear provisions of 2231,” Takht Ravanchi wrote in his Twitter account on Thursday.“Claiming the US is STILL “Participant” is not just preposterous; it’s FALSE," he added.
The remarks were in reaction to Mike Pompeo's recent Twitter message in which he said: “Today, I am ending the sanctions waiver for JCPOA-related projects in Iran, effective in 60 days. Iran’s continued nuclear escalation makes clear this cooperation must end.”
“Further attempts at nuclear extortion will only bring greater pressure on the regime,” Pompeo added.
He also blacklisted two more Iranian nuclear officials, saying: “Iran’s scientists need to make a choice: pursue peaceful work outside of the proliferation realm, or risk being sanctioned.”
The US will extend the nuclear sanctions on Bushehr's nuclear power plant for 90 days, but will not extend several other sanctions on the peaceful cooperation of Russian, Chinese, and European nuclear companies with Iran.
Accordingly, exemptions regarding cooperation in re-designing Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility, supplying enriched uranium for Tehran Research Reactor (TRR), and transferring its fuel outside of Iran will not be extended.
“On 20 July 2015, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2231 (2015) endorsing the JCPOA,” UNSC website reported. 221/207
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