A few days ago, US President Donald Tramp announced withdrawal of the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and signed a decree to reinstate Iran's nuclear sanctions in the coming months.
The withdrawal of the US from the nuclear deal has so far led to different reactions.
In the same vein, Mohammad Javad Larijani, Secretary of Iran's High Council for Human Rights has shared his views and comments on the issue.
Mohammad Javad Larijani told the reporters that the first crucial point was to note that withdrawal of America was the formal stage of their breach of promise though they had already revealed several instances of lack of commitment.
On Iran's follow-up decision, the official said the Islamic Republic of Iran no longer had any legal obligations to comply with the deal; "That is to say, we should not be mistaken that, despite US's withdrawal, we are required to adhere to the agreement. Of course, if we stick to it, it will be according to national and domestic considerations."
"The second point is that US secondary sanctions have always been the main source of threat in the framework of the nuclear deal since have never been enthusiastic do business with the United States, with the exception of issues like airplane purchases," he underlined.
The deputy director of international affairs of the Iranian Judiciary went on to add that secondary sanctions have always punished and pressured other countries, both inside and outside the 5+1 group, in making business deals with Tehran hence lack of ties between European banks and Iran. Even with presence of the US, foreign companies worked with Iran very carefully and in small steps indicating the significance of secondary sanctions.
Larijani said in the upcoming negotiations with the remaining countries in the agreement, Iran's diplomacy system, as urged by the Leader, needs to clarify two key questions clearly and unambiguously.
If Americans decide to trigger revival of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran, then what stance will be taken by the Europeans?
Larijani said the first point is whether Europeans are ready to resist pressures which will be caused by secondary sanctions or not.
"Secondly, other countries in the world are also affected by the issue, because our interactions in the world are not just limited to three European countries. Secondary sanctions also affect other European and non-European countries; therefore, our diplomacy should consider this key point as well.
Head of the High Council for Human Rights of Iran said another very key question is that, even if we assume Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia say they will endure secondary sanctions, then wast will happen to many of our deals with other countries like India or other European states? Will they tolerate sanctions as well?
"The next key point to bear in mind that not only are Americans unilaterally seeking to revoke their own sanctions against us, they are also working to revive UN anti-Iran sanctions imposed by the Security Council," Larijani underscored. "Unfortunately, the trigger mechanism allows Americans to revive these sanctions without taking vote from of the Security Council."
Iran's HR chief said Americans no longer have the right to use the trigger system because they have left the agreement. "This issue has been envisaged in the text of the JCPOA upon which if the US withdraws and decides to restore the former Security Council sanctions, it must present a plan to the Security Council and, of course, the plan must be reviewed and approved there."
Mohammad Javad Larijani said therefore, the European governments and countries with the right of veto in the Security Council must strongly insist on the stance that the US has no right to use the trigger mechanism anymore. Also, countries negotiating diplomacy with Iran should be clear on how to deal with the possible move by the United States in revoking Security Council sanctions.
"At the same time, I believe that during these diplomacy talks, we should temporarily suspend all IAEA monitoring systems, including human resources and electronic facilities," Larijani said in response to Iran's initial response to the US action.
HCHR's chief official said Iran has no legal obligation to continue permitting IAEA inspectors to monitor nuclear facilities, and what's more, there exists no reason for monitoring until things have become clarified." Therefore, we should suspend them so that diplomacy yields results within two to three weeks which, of course, is unlikely, because the allocated time is very short and because European countries have shown that they are vulnerable to secondary sanctions.
HA