Haley: Iran's Non-Compliance with the JCPOA Does Not Mean the U.S. Will Withdraw from the Agreement

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations states that if President Donald Trump reports to Congress in October that Iran has not adhered to the nuclear agreement with major powers, this does not mean Washington will withdraw from the JCPOA. Nikki Haley said on Tuesday, September 5, at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington that the Iranian nuclear agreement was 'designed to result in a major failure' and that Iranian leaders have 'taken the world hostage with their bad behavior.' According to Reuters, she described the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as 'a very flawed and limited agreement' that Iran has violated several times. The U.S. Ambassador to the UN also stated that she is unaware of Mr. Trump's decision on this matter, as it is one he will make alone. Haley, along with Donald Trump, is a staunch opponent of the Iranian nuclear agreement reached in July 2015 between Iran and six world powers. On September 23, she traveled to Vienna to discuss the review of the JCPOA and met with Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to discuss further verification of Iran's nuclear program. Last week, the U.S. Ambassador criticized the IAEA for not inspecting Iran's military sites, a matter that has provoked a strong reaction from Tehran, with the Iranian Foreign Minister describing Haley's visit to the IAEA headquarters in a letter to Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, and Yukiya Amano as 'a violation of the JCPOA by the U.S.' Iranian officials, from the advisor to the Supreme Leader to the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry and some conservative parliament members, have rejected inspections of Iran's military sites by the IAEA. The Trump administration, which came to power last January, has confirmed Iran's compliance with the Vienna agreement twice in reports to Congress, although it has stated that Tehran has not adhered to the 'spirit of the JCPOA.' Washington's reference to Iran's violation of the spirit of the JCPOA includes ballistic missile tests by the Revolutionary Guards and what it describes as Iran's role in undermining peace and stability in the Middle East through its involvement in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon. Under the Vienna agreement, Iran agreed to halt many of its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting or reduction of international sanctions against Tehran. The IAEA has confirmed Iran's compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA several times. In this context, Iran considered Haley's meeting with Yukiya Amano as 'a violation of the JCPOA by the U.S.' The U.S. Ambassador stated that IAEA inspectors should have access to Iran's military sites, which Iran has rejected. The French President stated that there is no alternative to the Iranian nuclear agreement. Rouhani expressed doubt that the IAEA would yield to the U.S. The IAEA stated that Iran has adhered to the limitations set under the JCPOA. Reuters reported that the IAEA does not consider inspections of Iran's military sites necessary. Zarif stated that Haley's remarks indicate her 'ignorance' of the JCPOA text. Boroujerdi stated that visits to military sites are subject to the decision of the Supreme National Security Council.