European Union: All parties of the JCPOA have adhered to the nuclear agreement so far

While Iran considers the new U.S. sanctions to be a violation of the Vienna nuclear agreement, the European Union announced on Thursday, August 12, that all parties to the nuclear agreement have adhered to their commitments so far. According to a report by AFP from Brussels, Catherine Ray, spokesperson for the EU's foreign policy chief, responded to a journalist's question regarding Iran's accusations against the U.S., stating: 'We believe that so far all parties are implementing their commitments regarding the [nuclear agreement with Iran]. We expect that they will continue to adhere to the agreement.' On Wednesday, Donald Trump signed a congressional bill imposing new sanctions against Iran, Russia, and North Korea, paving the way for the complete sanctioning of Iran's Revolutionary Guard. This event prompted reactions from Iranian officials, who accused the U.S. of seeking to annul the nuclear agreement through these sanctions, with the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stating that 'the Islamic Republic will not remain silent in the face of the U.S. violation of the JCPOA.' However, the spokesperson for the EU's foreign policy chief pointed to the Joint Commission meeting of the JCPOA held in Vienna in late July, stating that all parties emphasized their commitment to the nuclear agreement. Catherine Ray also mentioned that there was an extensive discussion in the Joint Commission meeting regarding Iran's concerns about the new U.S. sanctions. Previously, Reuters had reported that despite Iran's public protests against the new U.S. sanctions, it did not formally object to the implementation of the nuclear agreement during the Joint Commission meeting. Among other Iranian officials reacting to the new U.S. sanctions is Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic on international affairs, who called these sanctions 'illogical' and assured that Tehran can cope with these sanctions. According to the Iranian Students News Agency, ISNA, Velayati stated on Thursday: 'We have been accustomed to U.S. sanctions since the revolution and can solve our issues through other means. It is not the case that if the Americans sanction us in a certain area, we will be deprived of it.' He further added: 'America's allies do not agree with these economic policies and the imposition of extensive economic sanctions against Iran and Russia, and they are seeking to counter the Americans in these illogical sanctions, and Iran will be victorious in this field.' EU officials have expressed particular concern about the impact of U.S. sanctions on European energy companies involved in Russian oil and gas projects. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, stated that the U.S. Congress has committed to implementing sanctions only after consulting with its allies. In this context, Ali Shamkhani stated: Iran is not willing to preserve the JCPOA at any cost. Reactions from Russia, Iran, and the EU to the legalization of new congressional sanctions against the U.S. have included responses to the new U.S. sanctions; Araghchi stated: the IRGC and Quds Force will be strengthened. The law of sanctions and the continuation of tensions between Iran and the U.S. have changed the battlefield of 'proxy wars'; the war against the people in the streets of Iran.