Washington’s illogical positions contravene nuclear deal: Velayati

A high-ranking Iranian official says illogical stances taken by the United States contravene Iran's nuclear deal with the P5+1 group of countries to which Washington is also a signatory.

According to Press TV, Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on international affairs, made the remarks in a meeting with President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives Siegfried Bracke in Tehran on Sunday.

“According to all existing reports, Iran has proved its commitment to the nuclear deal, but unfortunately Americans, especially under the [US President Donald] Trump's administration, are following illogical stances, which are at odds with the nuclear agreement,” he added.

Velayati emphasized that the JCPOA was not an agreement between Iran and the US but a deal endorsed by the entire international community.

Elsewhere in his remarks, pointing to geopolitical issues in the region and the world, Velayati said, “In contrast to the past when international developments transformed regional issues, we are witnessing that regional developments are impacting the international scene.”

He also referred to the sensitive situation in the region and emphasized that the Islamic Republic was seriously pursuing the fight against terrorism as its principled stance.

The senior Iranian official noted that Tehran helped legitimate governments in the region thwart their enemies’ plots, saying, “We are ready to cooperate with all countries, which are interested and serious in this fight.”

JCPOA, proper chance for Iran, Belgium: Bracke

Bracke, for his part, said his country believed that Tehran-Brussels relations were not confined to the two sides, but were multilateral ties as Belgium was a member state of the European Union.

He added that the nuclear deal was a good chance for Iran and Belgium, expressing his country’s keen interest in expanding relations with Tehran given its high potential in scientific fields.

The president of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, who has traveled to Tehran at the head of a parliamentary delegation, held separate meetings with President Hassan Rouhani, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, and Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar on Saturday. He also attended a joint press conference with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on the same day.

SS