Iran, China presidents urge JCPOA implementation, verifiable removal of sanctions

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have called for the full and effective implementation of the Iran nuclear deal by all sides and the removal of all US sanctions against Tehran in a verifiable manner.

In a joint statement issued at the end of Raeisi’s three-day state visit to Beijing, the Iranian and Chinese presidents reaffirmed that the United States’ unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is the root cause of the current stalemate in the negotiations to revive the landmark accord.

The statement stressed the importance of removing sanctions and ensuring Iran’s economic interests as the fundamental part of the JCPOA, saying, “All relevant sanctions should be removed in a verifiable manner to facilitate the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA.”

Raeisi and Xi also voiced their strong objection to efforts by some countries to politicize the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the implementation of the Safeguard Agreement.

According to the statement, the Iranian and Chinese presidents thoroughly discussed cooperation in all areas as well as regional and international developments in a friendly and intimate atmosphere and reached broad agreements, including accelerating the implementation of a strategic 25-year partnership agreement between the two countries.

Iran and China signed the landmark comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in 2021 in defiance of unilateral sanctions against the two countries imposed by the United States.

The deal officially documents the Sino-Iranian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that had been announced during a visit by the Chinese president to Tehran in 2016. It sets the outlines of cooperation in political, cultural, security, defense, regional, and international domains for the next 25 years.

They highlighted the role of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in forcing Israel to join the treaty and placing all its nuclear facilities under IAEA supervision.

The two sides emphasized the importance of disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons for improving international peace and reiterated their respect for the inalienable rights of all NPT member states to develop nuclear science and technology and obtain nuclear materials, technology and equipment for peaceful purposes.

The Iranian and Chinese presidents also expressed their strong support for issues related to the two countries' basic interests, protection of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity.

According to the statement, the Chinese side strongly opposes interference of foreign forces in the internal affairs of Iran and efforts to undermine the country’s stability and security and supports Tehran’s increasing role in regional and international issues.

The Iranian side also continues its commitment to the One China policy, it added.

The two sides emphasized that peace and stability in the Persian Gulf are important in international security and energy flow, it said, adding that the Chinese side hailed Iran’s important role in maintaining global energy security.

Furthermore, Raeisi and Xi condemned all forms of terrorism and terrorist attacks against civilians and expressed their opposition to double standard policies in the fight against terrorism and linking the scourge to any particular religion and ethnic group.

The two presidents agreed to boost cooperation in the battle against terrorism in order to promote regional and international peace and security and agreed to consult in the field of counter-terror efforts and discuss a joint political mechanism to fight terror-related issues.

They also agreed to accelerate the implementation of the comprehensive cooperation plan and further development of cooperation in the fields of trade, agriculture, industry, renewable energy and infrastructure.

The two sides also said that the 18th meeting of the Iran-China Joint Trade and Economic Committee will be held in Tehran in 2023.

According to the statement, the Chinese president accepted an invitation from his Iranian counterpart to pay a visit to Tehran.

MG