Iran: Time running out for nuclear deal
Iran has warned Europe that the time to save the multilateral agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program is running out, and reiterated its criticism of the US for Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the agreement.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the US’s attempts to “impose its policy on others increase the threat for us all”.
Speaking at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional group of countries led by Russia and China, with Iran as an observer, Rouhani said: “A recent example of such unilateral actions by the US government and its dismissive attitude towards the international community is its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.”
On June 10, Iranian Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani emphasized that it is time for Europe to show that it can save the nuclear deal, the unofficial term for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“It must be completely clear that Iran’s officials will not wait for Europe’s new, endless promises. The time for negotiations is running out, and if Europe considers itself capable of adhering to the nuclear deal, it must announce its decision clearly and quickly, otherwise Iran will take its own measures with respect to the nuclear issue and other issues,” Larijani said in his speech.
At the SCO summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the US’s decision to withdraw from the agreement could destabilize the Middle East. He added that Russia will continue to fulfill its obligations in the deal.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed regret concerning the White House’s decision, and said that Beijing is prepared to collaborate with Moscow and other countries in order to preserve the nuclear deal.
On May 21, US Secretary of State said that the Trump administration is planning to introduce the “most powerful sanctions in history” against Iran if Tehran does not meet Washington’s 12 demands, which center on the eradication of the Iranian military nuclear program and the cessation of aggressive hegemonic regional policy.
Tehran denies that it is developing nuclear weapons. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei mocked the US policy of economic and political pressure on Iran, saying it is doomed to fail.
US President Donald Trump announced that Washington was withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers.
Russia, China, the UK, Germany and France urged Washington to remain committed to the 2015 agreements, saying that this would be the best way to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.