Spokesman Denies Rumors of Iran’s JCPOA Pullout

TEHRAN– Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson quashed rumors about Tehran’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and about Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s resignation.

In an interview with ISNA on Saturday, Bahram Qassemi strongly denied rumors about Zarif’s resignation, disagreement between the foreign minister and President Hassan Rouhani, and Iran’s pullout from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

He dismissed the idea that Zarif is going to resign or that there is a division between the Foreign Ministry and the administration, saying certain elements inside the country are insanely spreading false news to weaken the Foreign Ministry and its hardworking personnel, Tasnim News reported.

As for rumors that Iran is going withdraw from the nuclear agreement, the spokesman said it seems that certain groups are “systematically” fomenting mental chaos in the society and disrupting the market to favor the profiteers.

“They are attempting to spread biased and false news to create negative psychological atmosphere in the market,” Qassemi deplored, underscoring that any decision about the nuclear deal comes within the purview of the high council monitoring the JCPOA.

In May 2018, US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the JCPOA, which was achieved in 2015 after years of negotiations between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

Following the US exit, Iran and the remaining parties launched talks to save the accord.

Iranian officials have said the country will remain in the JCPOA as long as the nuclear deal serves its interests.

M.Wassouf