“Iran cannot undertake all the costs of implementing the JCPOA and the illegal behavior of others, and others need to pay a price for protecting the JCPOA,” Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi told the 17
th Joint Commission to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) via virtual video conference on Wednesday.
“The European parties always want only Iran to show restraint towards all illegal and hostile behaviors, whether it is US sanctions or acts of sabotage in Natanz and assassination of its nuclear scientists,” he added.
Regarding speculation about the possible return of the United States to the JCPOA, Araqchi said, "We pay attention to actions instead of words and speculation."
He said that Iran has always declared its position clearly and is ready to resume the implementation of its JCPOA obligations, which have been suspended in accordance with Articles 26 and 36 of the nuclear agreement, after the United States will have returned to fulfilling its obligations enshrined in the agreement.
The commission meeting was being chaired on behalf of European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell by Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Helga Schmid.
The meeting was attended at the level of Foreign Ministry Deputies/Political Directors of the remaining parties to the JCPOA, namely Iran, China, Russia, the UK, France, and Germany,
said a statement by the EEAS website.
"Participants discussed ongoing work to preserve the JCPOA and how to ensure the full and effective implementation of the agreement by all sides in light of existing challenges," it added.
The statement noted that participants also agreed to hold an informal meeting of the Foreign Ministries of the JCPOA member states on December 1 in virtual format.
The JCPOA was signed in July 2015 between Iran and six world powers and ratified in the form of Resolution 2231.
However, President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the US out of the deal in May 2018 and reinstated the anti-Iran sanctions that had been lifted by the deal.
The Trump administration also targeted Iran with the so-called maximum pressure campaign, subjecting the nation to the “toughest ever” restrictive measures.
As the remaining European parties failed to live up to their commitments to keep trade with Iran despite US bans, the Islamic Republic moved in May 2019 to suspend some of its commitments under Articles 26 and 36 of the accord covering Tehran’s legal rights.
Tehran has, however, said that its countermeasures are reversible once Washington returns to the JCPOA, fulfill its commitments and end its sanctions.
