Khamenei : Iran Not to Remain in JCPOA without Practical European Guarantees

TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei urged that any decision to keep the 2015 nuclear deal running without the US should be conditional on “practical guarantees” from the three European parties to the JCPOA.

In comments during a visit to the Farhangian University in Tehran on Wednesday, Ayatollah Khamenei said Iranian administration officials are faced with a “tough test” of safeguarding the Iranian nation’s dignity in dealing with the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Tasnim News Agency reported.

As regards the administration’s decision to consider saving the nuclear deal with the three European parties -France, Britain and Germany-, the Leader voiced distrust of the Europeans, stressing that any plan to maintain the deal must come with practical guarantees.

 Without practical and definite assurance, it is impossible to keep the deal going, because the Europeans are likely to follow the US’s lead, Ayatollah Khamenei warned.

The Leader then hit back at the US president for his “silly and cheap” comments on Iran that included more than 10 lies, saying Trump “made a damn mistake” threatening the Iranian establishment and nation.

The US withdrawal from the nuclear deal indicates that Iran’s nuclear program was not the issue, as Washington is now using other pretexts such as Iran’s missile power or regional influence, Imam Khamenei added.

“Today, their (US’s) concerns are about our presence in our own region and our missile program. (But) even if we agree to their demands, the issue will not be resolved; they will raise another subject,” the Leader said.

“The real reason behind the US opposition towards the Islamic Republic’s establishment is the fact that (before the Islamic Revolution) the US had complete dominance over our country but their hands were cut off from Iran (with the victory of the Islamic Revolution),” Ayatollah Khamenei went on to say.

In a speech from the White House on Tuesday night, Trump accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism and seeking nukes before announcing the US withdrawal from the nuclear accord.

Following the controversial decision, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran weighs plans to remain in the agreement with the other five parties, namely Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, provided that the remaining JCPOA parties ensure its full benefits for Iran.

In an open session of the Iranian Parliament on Wednesday morning, a number of lawmakers set fire to the JCPOA and to the US flag in a symbolic gesture of protest.

IRGC Chief Stresses Buildup of Iran’s Defense Power as US Exits JCPOA

On is part, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps called for boosting Iran’s defense capabilities following the US exit from the JCPOA, saying the move proved that America is against Iran’s defense and missile power and is using Iran’s peaceful nuclear program just as an excuse.

“From now on, we, the Armed Forces, should pay more and deeper attention to enhancement of defense power and pursue the main factors of our own power,” Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said.

H.M