Iran Calls for US’ Political Statement on Commitment to Nuclear Deal
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The foreign minister of Iran proposed that the US Congress make a “political statement” of its commitment to a nuclear accord with Tehran as talks in Vienna to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have reached a critical juncture.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Hossein Amirabdollahian said Washington had failed to address Iran’s demand for guarantees that no party is able to abandon the deal, as the US did under former president Donald Trump in 2018.
“As a matter of principle, public opinion in Iran cannot accept as a guarantee the words of a head of state, let alone the United States, due to the withdrawal of Americans from the JCPOA,” the foreign minister said.
Amirabdollahian said he had told Iran’s negotiators to propose to Western parties that “at least their parliaments or parliament speakers, including the US Congress, can declare in the form of a political statement their commitment to the agreement and return to the JCPOA implementation”.
Amirabdollahian said, “Iran’s commitments are as clear as a mathematical formula. It is absolutely clear what we are supposed to do and how these measures will be verified through the IAEA. Therefore the other side can have no concern; But we remain concerned primarily about the guarantees (that the US would not withdraw).”
Expressing Tehran’s frustrations with Washington’s position as weeks of talks in Vienna appear at risk of stalling, Amirabdollahian said, “We are facing problems during this period because the other party lacks a serious initiative.”
He said that Iran wanted the negotiations to lead to the “total lifting” of sanctions.
The challenge, however, was that the Biden administration was only willing to remove the economic sanctions authorized by Trump, the top diplomat added.
“This is not all we are looking for. That Trump unilaterally and unjustly imposed sanctions on real and legal entities in Iran under some allegations as Iran’s missile program, regional issues or human rights is not acceptable,” Amirabdollahian said.
“This is also one of the challenges which remains on the negotiating table in Vienna.”
Amirabdollahian said US officials had sent “many messages” to have direct talks with Iran, but ruled out any such move.
“Our last response to Americans and intermediaries was: any direct dialogue, contact and negotiation with the US would have very huge costs for my government,” the foreign minister said.
“We are not ready to enter into the process of direct talks with the US if we do not have a clear and promising outlook to reach a good agreement with sustainable guarantees in front of us,” he stated.
The foreign minister added that Tehran had indicated to the US that if Washington’s “intentions are genuine, you should take some practical and tangible steps on the ground before any direct talks and contacts can take place.”
This could include unfreezing billions of dollars of Iranian petrodollars stuck in foreign central banks because of Trump’s sanctions or a presidential executive order to lift some of the sanctions, he said.
“In general, we are optimistic. We also welcome a good deal in the shortest time however this deal must uphold the rights of the Iranian people,” Amirabdollahian went on to say.
