Reining in US' destructive behavior necessary to protect multilateralism: Salehi

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says multilateralism, as the raison d'être of the United Nations system, has come under serious question, emphasizing that there is no way but to get united and put an end to the destructive behavior of the current United States administration for the interests of the international community.

According to Press TV, Ali Akbar Salehi made the remarks while addressing the 64th regular session of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s General Conference in Vienna, Austria, on Monday.

“It is no secret that international organizations are under political pressures from certain states, and the IAEA is of no exception. At this critical point in time for multilateralism, on the one hand, the raison d'être of the United Nations system has come under serious question; and on the other hand, the International Atomic Energy Agency is facing a very serious challenge of its kind since its inception,” Iran’s nuclear chief said.

Salehi then described the 2015 landmark nuclear deal signed between Iran and six world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the real turning point in the history of multilateralism and an important achievement of diplomacy.

"On the current status of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, I would like to say that, while there is still a broad agreement among the international community that the JCPOA should be preserved as the real turning point in the history of multilateralism and as an important achievement of diplomacy, the JCPOA is caught in a quasi-stalemate situation due to the illegal withdrawal of the US from the deal," he said.

He emphasized that all members of the international community shoulder a common responsibility to preserve the multilateral accord.

Underlying the responsibility of the Europeans specifically the E3 -- Britain, France and Germany -- as the three European signatories to the JCPOA, the Iranian nuclear chief said, "They must implement their obligations fully and effectively."

"Thus, the deal is preserved only when its provisions are implemented in a balanced manner by all parties involved. As a result, Iran has and had no other option rather [than] adopt a step-by-step approach in implementing paragraphs 26 and 36 of the JCPOA to restore the lost balance to the deal."

Elsewhere in his address, Salehi expressed Iran's readiness to "continue its efforts and cooperation with others in the international community to bring back multilateralism and diplomacy at the center of international relations."

The AEOI chief hailed the international community for refusing to bow to US's demands and said, "The UN Security Council members in New York have rightly shown that they are not willing to compromise on the achievements simply because of the intimidation approach of one specific member state."

"Thirteen out of 15 members of the Security Council not only unanimously rejected the US Resolution on the extension of the arms embargo against Iran but also didn’t recognize the US as a JCPOA participant to use specific mechanisms of the deal to bring back [the Security] Council’s already terminated sanctions," he added.

SS