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Iran has Plan B if JCPOA doesn't work out: FM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 Feb 2023 17:51

Amirabdollahian said Washington was giving Tehran mixed signals in regard to the nuclear deal

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks during a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fouad Hussein during his visit to Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that Iran has a "Plan B" if talks to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are annulled by the US.

During a press conference in Baghdad, after a meeting with the Iraqi foreign minister, Amir-Abdollahian said the US was giving Iran mixed signals in regard to the nuclear deal.

"If the American side opts for a different path, we are also ready to implement Plan B and step in a different path, and all options are available to us and are on the table," Amir-Abdollahian said, as quoted by Mehr news agency.

Check out: The JCPOA in Brief (The Original 2015 deal)

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was an agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 (5 permanent Security Council members plus Germany), whereby Iran would decrease uranium enrichment and allow IAEA monitoring of its nuclear facilities in exchange for economic and trade incentives and a removal of sanctions.

In 2018, Trump, with encouragement from Netanyahu, had America withdraw from it - stating that the agreement was "a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made," claiming that "it didn't bring calm, it didn't bring peace, and it never will."

In 2021, JCPOA negotiations on the JCPOA were resumed. In 2022, western parties suspended the negotiations under the pretext of the riots in Iran. In December, the Biden administration said they will be abandoning the JCPOA deal following Iran's alleged supply of drones to Russia during the war in Ukraine.

The Biden administration had criticized his predecessor's decision to scrap the deal, known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and vowed to reverse the measure shortly after taking office.

However, the Biden administration has maintained a limbo stance in regard to the deal. Observers believe that they are attempting to gain leverage in negotiations by making baseless accusations against Iran.

Iran has demanded that the US provide assurances that it will not leave it again before it can re-enter the JCPOA. Washington has refused to provide a legally binding guarantee, making Tehran skeptical of the Biden administration's commitment to the talks.