Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on\u00a0Thursday\u00a0ruled out renegotating the 2015 nuclear accord, asking the US and\u00a0Europeans\u00a0to return to\u00a0full compliance \u201cwithout pre-conditions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing a virtual session of the Mediterranean Dialogue meeting, Zarif said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) provides for Iran \u201cnot implementing its obligations\u201d if the other parties, the US and Europeans, fail to implement theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His remarks came a day after Iran\u2019s top supervisory body gave its nod to parliament\u2019s strategic action plan, which requires the government to speed up nuclear enrichment activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government and parliament have been at loggerheads over a response to the killing of Iran\u2019s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, which has threatened to re-ignite tensions with the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parliament\u2019s plan, which was approved by the Guardian Council, a constitutionally-mandated body empowered to vet legislation, requires the government to resume 20% uranium enrichment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also calls for ending voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), giving the government a one-month deadline to suspend the protocol\u2019s implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zarif said the government was opposed to the plan, called the \u201cStrategic Action to Lift Sanctions,\u201d but it is obliged to the country\u2019s laws and will implement the plan if it takes the shape of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He, however, defended the action to \u201creduce commitments\u201d under the JCPOA, citing a lack of cooperation from the US and E3 (France, Germany and the UK) as well as \u201cnational sentiments\u201d in the wake of Fakhrizadeh\u2019s killing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran\u2019s top diplomat termed the killing of Fakhrizadeh \u201can act of international aggression\u201d and said the three European countries have \u201cfailed to condemn\u201d it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the possibility of negotiations with the new US administration, Zarif said the US has \u201ccommitments\u201d under UNSC Resolution 2231, and it \u201ccannot set conditions\u201d for full compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will not re-negotiate a deal which we negotiated. The deal was about give and take, not about one side asking and the other side giving,\u201d Zarif said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the negotiations, which lasted two years, were based on \u201cmutual mistrust,\u201d due to which the two sides put in place a \u201cmechanism\u201d allowing them to reduce their commitments or withdraw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo back to full compliance, normalize Iran\u2019s economic relations with the world, stop making new conditions or outrageous demands,\u201d Zarif said, referring to the US and E3. \u201cAs soon as you do that, we will immediately return to full compliance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said parliament\u2019s decision was \u201cintended to bring the US back to the nuclear deal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the issue of Iran\u2019s missile program and regional security, Zarif said the West \u201cmust end its malign behavior\u201d in the region, referring to support for Israeli crimes in Palestine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also condemned recent normalization deals between Israel and some Arab states, warning them against joining hands with Israel in its fight with Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are their neighbors. We will be in this region together,\u201d he said, referring to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. \u201cI don\u2019t believe they want to allow Israel to bring the fight here.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on\u00a0Thursday\u00a0ruled out renegotating the 2015 nuclear accord, asking the US and\u00a0Europeans\u00a0to return to\u00a0full compliance \u201cwithout pre-conditions.\u201d\u00a0 Addressing a virtual session of the Mediterranean Dialogue meeting, Zarif said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) provides for Iran \u201cnot implementing its […]<\/p>\n
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