Iran seeking reliable, lasting JCPOA revival deal

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Tehran is after a strong, reliable, and long-lasting revival of the JCPOA, Iranian Supreme Political Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani told EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday during the latter's visit to Iran.

Iran has fulfilled all of its obligations under the nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and it never got off the negotiations table despite the unilateral and unlawful withdrawal of the United States from the accord, Shamkhani said.

The top official criticized the European Union for its inaction regarding Washington's unilateral withdrawal and imposition of sanctions on Tehran, noting that Europe's stance accompanied by the US actions created a bitter experience for Iran.

He further highlighted that Iran's remedial measures in its nuclear sector were a lawful and rational response to the US unilateralism and Europe's inaction, underlining that Tehran's measures would continue until it perceives a change in the West's behavior.

Referring to the Vienna talks and the indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States on Washington's re-implementation of the nuclear deal, Shamkhani noted that Tehran sat at the negotiations table with the aim of achieving sanctions relief and enjoying the JCPOA's full economic benefits.

Any agreement that fails to fulfill those goals through reliable guarantees by the United States and the E3 is unfavorable for Iran, Shamkhani stressed.

The Vienna talks between major powers and Iran aim to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement and have the United States back to it following a unilateral withdrawal from the US in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump, who followed his decision with the imposition of harsh sanctions on Tehran.

Shamkhani also criticized the Biden administration for its upholding of the policy of maximum pressure launched by its predecessor, as well as its sanctions and threats against Iran made during Washington's indirect participation in the nuclear talks. He noted that such behavior by the United States was the main reason behind the prolonging and infertility of the Vienna talks.

Borrell, the European Union's top diplomat, said the deal to revive the JCPOA would be a key security achievement taking into consideration the latest developments and circumstances around the world in the wake of the Ukraine war.

Borrell also chastised Trump for pulling out of the JCPOA, noting that all the parties to the accord should look to the future for them to be able to reach a revival of the agreement.

During his discussions with Shamkhani, Borrell revealed that, as per talks with US officials, the Biden administration is seeking a revival of the JCPOA.

Previously, Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian had said that had the US dealt "realistically" during the last round of talks in Vienna, the member states would have been closer than ever to signing an accord.

The multiparty nuclear agreement was signed to provide sanction relief to Iran in exchange for the Islamic Republic reducing its nuclear activities, despite them being peaceful.

US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said Saturday that Washington still believed in the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal.

"We still believe in getting back into the JCPOA. I can't speak to the status of where the negotiations are right now, but nothing has changed about our position that a nuclear deal is the best way to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons status," Kirby told reporters on his way to the G7 summit in Germany.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors adopted in early June a draft resolution submitted by the US and the E3, criticizing Iran for what they claim were incomplete answers given to the IAEA on uranium traces at "undeclared sites". These claims were quickly refuted by the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, who said that Iran has neither secret or unwritten nuclear activities nor unreported nuclear sites.

Following that report, Iran abandoned all commitments beyond the Safeguards Agreement in response to the IAEA's Board of Governors' adoption of an anti-Iran resolution, an Iranian lawmaker revealed, condemning the resolution passed by the agency.