At UNSC meeting, Russia stresses JCPOA survival; Iran says has done enough to preserve deal

Russia once again underlines the need for the remaining parties to the 2015 multilateral nuclear deal to live up to their commitments to help Iran benefit from the accord as Tehran says it has done enough to preserve the agreement and will not take the burdens alone anymore.

Addressing a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East on Wednesday, Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia said the US withdrawal last year from the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran “contradict the purpose of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 and undermines Iran’s ability to comply with provisions of the document.”

He said that “the only way to preserve the deal is the good faith implementation of it by all of the remaining state parties of the obligations they have voluntarily taken upon themselves.”

He said Iran is “conscientiously” implementing its share of the agreement as demonstrated by many reports from the UN nuclear agency, adding that Iran is one of the “most verified countries” in the world in terms of commitment to international non-proliferation regimes, according to Press TV.

Iran is strictly complying with all its nuclear obligations in the face of considerable challenges, Nebenzia noted.

However, by unilaterally leaving the JCPOA and undermining this agreement which is fundamental for regional and global security, “The United States is now trying to shift the blame for everything. They are not only refusing to implement Resolution 2231 that they endorsed but they are trying to ever more painfully punish all other member states for implementing Security Council decisions and conversely they are demanding that Iran unquestioningly implement absolutely all of the obligations,” the Russian envoy said.

He added that Russia has repeatedly condemned “irresponsible attempts to torpedo the agreement” and expressed hope that “matters of international security and stability will stop being held hostage to the domestic political intrigues of individual states.” “Unfortunately our appeals have been ignored and the unique potential of the JCPOA has been jeopardized,” he added.

“The only practical step that can be taken to save the JCPOA is the implementation by the remaining parties of their obligations. We need to abandon fear … and prioritize the maintenance of the JCPOA,” Nebenzia said.

He said that Russia understands the “deep disappointment” of Iran as it has been demanded full compliance with its obligations without fully benefiting from the deal.

He also denounced the US for its policy of “economic strangling” of Iran coupled with a threat of military action.

Also addressing the meeting was Iran’s ambassador to the UNSC who said the Islamic Republic has done enough to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal and will not take the burdens alone anymore.

“In practical terms, the JCPOA has become an agreement which is being respected only by one party and a multilateral agreement cannot be implemented unilaterally. Iran has done a lot and much more than its fair share to preserve the nuclear deal,” Majid Takht-e Ravanchi said.

“Iran alone cannot, shall not and will not take all of the burdens any more to preserve the JCPOA,” he added.

M.Wassouf