European signatories of the nuclear deal with Iran known as JCPOA did not invoke a trigger mechanism capable of re-imposing anti-Iran sanctions by the United Nations, a Chinese envoy said.
European sides not invoking JCPOA dispute mechanism
7 Dec 2019 - 12:29
European signatories of the nuclear deal with Iran known as JCPOA did not invoke a trigger mechanism capable of re-imposing anti-Iran sanctions by the United Nations, a Chinese envoy said.
Fu Cong, director general of the Department of Arms Control of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a three-hour-long meeting of the Joint Commission on the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal in Vienna on Friday.
"All countries need to refrain from taking actions that further complicate the situation," he said.
"In our view there is an element of automaticity into this and we can't be sure that countries can keep this process under control. It could aggravate tensions," he added.
However, the Chinese diplomat noted that all parties called on Iran to remain in full compliance of the JCPOA.
Representatives from Iran and the five remaining signatories to the landmark nuclear deal -- Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China -- as well as the European Union attended the Friday meeting to discuss ways to save the accord.
It was the first meeting by the remaining parties to the JCPOA since July. In May 2018, US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled his country out of the international deal, in defiance of global criticism, and later re-imposed the sanctions that had been lifted against Tehran as part of the agreement.
In response to the move, Tehran has so far rowed back on its nuclear commitments four times in compliance with Articles 26 and 36, but stressed that its retaliatory measures will be reversible as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the mutual trade from the sanctions.
However, European members since last month have begun raising the possibility of triggering the JCPOA’s “dispute resolution mechanism,” which is also known as the trigger mechanism, and whose activation can lead to the return of the UN sanctions on Iran.
Ahead of the Vienna meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif referred to a statement issued by Washington to refute allegations made by European signatories of the JCPOA claiming that Iran's missile activities have violated the deal.
Story Code: 444419