FM: US needs to end ‘sanctions lunacy’

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has reiterated Tehran’s resolve to continue talks on the revival of the 2015 multilateral agreement, urging an end to the United States’ “sanctions lunacy” and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s political approaches in this regard.

In a post on Twitter on Friday, Amir-Abdollahian said the Iranian administration is abiding by a strategic parliamentary law, which has widened the scope of the country’s nuclear countermeasures. He, however, emphasized that Iran would never “distance itself from result-oriented talks” aimed at salvaging the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The law – dubbed the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions – was passed by the Iranian Parliament in December 2020, prompting the administration to restrict the IAEA’s inspections and accelerate the development of the country’s nuclear program beyond the limits set under the JCPOA, such as ending the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

“Abiding by Majlis law, we continue talks & call on US to be realistic & abandon sanctions lunacy; & on IAEA to focus on technical duties instead of adopting politicized approach,” Amir-Abdollahian tweeted, referring to Iran’s parliament known as Majlis.

The top Iranian diplomat emphasized the Islamic Republic would “NEVER hesitate to neutralize sanctions.”

The tweet came a day after the administration of US President Joe Biden imposed a new round of sanctions on Iranian petrochemical producers as well as a network of Chinese, Emirati and Indian companies over what the US Treasury described as facilitating the export of Iran's oil.

“On the one hand, the Americans are sending the message that they are ready to negotiate, but, on the other, they are adding to the sanctions. The world should give us the right not to trust them.”

Time for decision about return to JCPOA is now: EU’s Borrell

The European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday the time is ripe for the JCPOA parties to make a decision about a return to the deal and ensure its full implementation.

Addressing a UN Security Council meeting, Borrell said he is in “permanent contact” with all the parties to the JCPOA to make necessary arrangements for the deal's revival. “The basic elements and terms to do this are known and on the table," the top EU diplomat said.

In a telephonic conversation with Borrell in May, the FM said Tehran is determined to reach a strong and lasting agreement in Vienna talks.

Amir-Abdollahian said, “Tehran has the goodwill and seriousness required for reaching an agreement.”

SS