UN Chief Hails JCPOA as ‘Historic Achievement’
In a statement on Wednesday, the UN chief congratulated Iran and the participants in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the first anniversary of the “historic achievement” and commended progress made so far.
On 20 July last year, the Council adopted resolution 2231 (2015), endorsing the JCPOA under which Iran pledged that it would not seek, develop or acquire nuclear weapons.
The resolution called the deal a “culmination of diplomatic efforts” by Iran and the so-called E3+3 – China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
In his statement, Ban Ki-moon said the JCPOA was “a triumph of diplomacy” for conflict resolution and prevention, and strengthened global norms for nuclear non-proliferation.
“Resolution 2231 (2015) heralded a fundamental shift in Iran’s relationship with the Security Council, and provided a defined time schedule for the removal of the Iran nuclear issue from the Council’s agenda,” the Secretary-General said.
He also commended Iran for implementing its nuclear-related commitments, as verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency, while also applauding the steps taken by the European Union and the United States.
“One year on, I remain certain that the JCPOA is the best way to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program and to realize the great aspirations of the Iranian people,” he said, calling for the agreement and resolution 2231 to be implemented in a comprehensive manner, based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.
The UN Secretary General also hailed the United States and Europe for taking steps towards removing sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
That would facilitate greater cooperation to achieve international peace and security, he said.
Iran can roll back nuclear program if JCPOA breached, says Salehi
On the other hand, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has warned that Tehran can roll back its nuclear program if the other side to the country’s nuclear agreement violates the deal.
Ali Akbar Salehi told IRIB on Wednesday that Iranian experts have devised a “reversibility” mechanism that would enable Iran to “immediately” return to conditions before the conclusion of the deal if the other side fails to live up to its commitments under the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“Should something happen that would breach the JCPOA… we are fully capable of rolling back [the Iranian nuclear program],” Salehi said.
He, however, stressed that Tehran has no plans to build a new facility.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi said Iran has witnessed many “contradictions” in comments made by Western governments and officials over the past month.
“We think that something is in the making but we hope it is not true,” he said, censuring a recent report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on JCPOA implementation.
The report by the UN chief claims that Iran’s ballistic missile launches “are not consistent with the constructive spirit” of the JCPOA, which was reached between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia – plus Germany on July 14, 2015.
Iran and the six world powers started implementing the JCPOA on January 16.
Under the deal, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the Security Council and the US should be lifted. Iran has, in return, put some limitations on its nuclear activities.
Washington and the European Union are yet to completely lift sanctions against Iran; months after the agreement went into effect.
The July 18 report by the UN chief has sparked criticism not only from Iran but also from the US and Russia.
No way left for Iran but confrontation, says Larijani
Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani says Iran is left with no choice but to confront the US for its “injurious” measures, calling on the country’s top nuclear body to launch a uranium enrichment plant.
Larijani on Wednesday touched on three bills being advanced by US lawmakers against Iran’s nuclear accord and the UN chief’s disparaging report about its implementation.
“Majlis, utterly regretting the UN chief’s move, is warning the US administration and its House of Representatives and Senate that injurious measures against the nuclear agreement have reached such a point that there is no way left for Iran but to counteract,” he said.
“It is necessary that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, as per the law, prepares a plan for the launch of a nuclear plant for enrichment in grades needed in the country and keeps Majlis posted,” Larijani added.
US lawmakers are targeting the Obama administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran with three bills, envisaging new sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Larijani said the nuclear deal includes no reference to Iran’s ballistic missiles, adding that it is only the UN’s Resolution 2231 where the subject pops up merely to call on Iran to refrain from developing missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads.
“Has Iran designed any such thing? Why would the UN chief then declare that the spirit of the JCPOA has been violated?” Larijani asked.
UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which was adopted to endorse the JCPOA, puts no limits on Iran’s missile activities and merely “calls upon” Iran to refrain from engaging in developing missiles that are “designed to be capable of” carrying nuclear warheads.
Iran says it is involved in no such missile activity and has no such warheads.
IRNA, PRESS T.V
R.S