Will Iran Remain in the JCPOA?
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Trump’s disgraceful pullout left the agreement hanging by a thread, other countries pressured to go along with what’s clearly unacceptable.
Iran wants the deal preserved. It wants EU-guaranteed legal and political commitments to assure Tehran receives JCPOA benefits promised under its terms – including binding assurance by Brussels for unimpeded economic, financial and trade relations to continue.
Fifty Iranian MPs signed a motion, wanting conditions set by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei for remaining in the JCPOA codified into law, including:
- guaranteed assurance by Brussels to enforce Security Council Resolution 2231 – unanimously adopting the JCPOA, making it binding international law;
- Brussels pledging no opposition to Iran’s legitimate ballistic missile program;
- EU guaranteeing no change in purchasing Iranian oil;
- European banks guaranteeing continued financial relations with Tehran;
- assurance by Brussels to reject all US JCPOA-related sanctions; and
- Brussels to respect Iran’s right to resume pre-JCPOA nuclear activities if any of the above conditions are breached.
Tehran will remain in the nuclear deal only with firm guarantees that its rights under JCPOA and Resolution 2231 provisions are fully respected and observed by Brussels.
China and Russia reject any deviation from them, unwilling to accept US reimposition of nuclear related sanctions – a contractual breach, a violation of international law, demanding world community opposition and refusal to go along.
On Sunday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi said negotiations with Brussels will continue only as long as they “mov(e) in the right path and observ(e) Iran’s” end of May deadline for resolution.
He warned Brussels against stalling and wasting time. It’s either on board to assure Iran receives all benefits it’s entitled to under the JCPOA or not. There’s no in between.
On Sunday, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi made Tehran’s intention clear, saying:
“We will not begin (resumption of) 20% enrichment for now, but we have to be ready to resume the activities halted if needed and if we see the JCPOA has no benefits” – if Brussels largely or entirely bends to Washington’s will, if enough EU companies (including financial institutions) do the same by ceasing their economic, financial and trade relations with Iran.
“Currently, pumps, monitors and other things are ready at Fordow (to resume 20% enrichment) like a vehicle ready to start with its key in place,” Kamalvandi explained, adding:
“The 20-percent enrichment could be done swiftly, and we are able to begin the process within a maximum of two or three days.”
Creation of the EU was a CIA Cold War project, Washington wanting a united front against Soviet Russia, along with control over Western countries – part of a greater scheme for global dominance.
Most often Brussels bends to US interests – even at the expense of its own member-states, supporting sanctions on Russia, North Korea, Iran and other countries.
EU nations have a lot of proving to do to show otherwise in relations with Iran going forward. They’ll likely fail the test partially or entirely while pretending otherwise.
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