Former Nuclear Negotiation Team Member: We Should Not React Hastily to Senate Resolution

While a member of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) oversight committee and several members of parliament have described the U.S. Senate's resolution regarding a new sanctions package against Iran as contrary to the 'spirit and letter' of the nuclear agreement, Iran's ambassador in London stated that this matter requires 'careful examination' and should not be reacted to 'hastily.' Meanwhile, the state news agency IRNA reported that a 'knowledgeable source' indicated that the European Union, Russia, and China do not view this resolution as a violation of the Vienna nuclear agreement. On Sunday, June 17, Hamid Baidi-Nejad, Iran's ambassador in London and a former member of the nuclear negotiation team, stated in a note that the inconsistency of the U.S. Senate's resolution with the Vienna nuclear agreement 'requires thorough expert investigations that must certainly be conducted under the supervision and guidance of high-ranking officials and institutions.' Mr. Baidi-Nejad also pointed out the two remaining stages for this resolution to become law, urging to 'avoid any haste in announcing official positions by the legal institutions of the system' and to defer official reactions until the resolution is enacted into law. The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Thursday, June 14, in favor of a new sanctions bill against the Islamic Republic of Iran, known as the 'Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act.' This bill imposes mandatory sanctions on any individual and entity connected to Iran's ballistic missile program and also on commercial parties involved with this program. If passed by the House of Representatives and signed by President Donald Trump, this resolution will be implemented. The National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament has approved a plan to counter the Senate resolution, which must be voted on in the parliament's public session. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also announced that in response to the Senate resolution, 'reciprocal and proportional measures' will be taken by the JCPOA oversight committee. Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Velayati, international advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic and a member of the JCPOA oversight committee, described the U.S. Senate resolution as 'contrary to the spirit and letter of the JCPOA' and stated that this committee will provide an 'appropriate response' to this 'contrary to the JCPOA' action. However, IRNA reported on Saturday, citing a 'knowledgeable source,' that the drafters of the bill believe the proposed sanctions are not contrary to the Vienna nuclear agreement. This 'knowledgeable source' predicted that if this bill is passed in the House of Representatives and signed by Donald Trump, 'not only the Europeans but also very likely China and Russia will confirm the arguments of U.S. senators that this resolution does not violate the JCPOA.' According to an amendment added to the Iran sanctions bill, new sanctions will also be imposed on Russia, aimed at punishing Russia for its interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, the annexation of Crimea, and support for the Syrian regime. Meanwhile, the Iranian ambassador in London wrote that the approval of sanctions in this bill against Russia, which 'should have been approved under a separate bill,' is 'really strange.' According to Mr. Baidi-Nejad, this resolution has become complex, and because it may affect U.S.-Russia relations, there is a possibility of it being vetoed by Donald Trump. This statement comes as the Senate bill was approved with the support of 98 U.S. senators, and even a second or third vote from senators would be sufficient to nullify a potential presidential veto.