Iran: We Will End Our Commitments Under the JCPOA If Necessary

Simultaneously with Donald Trump's speech about the new U.S. strategy against the Islamic Republic, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced the "key points of Tehran's response to this speech" and emphasized that the Islamic Republic will "end its commitments" under the Vienna nuclear agreement "if necessary." According to Fars News Agency, Bahram Qasemi stated on Friday, October 13, in a statement outlining seven points in response to the U.S. President's speech. The spokesperson said that the Islamic Republic has been "committed" to the Vienna nuclear agreement, but "the U.S. non-compliance with this agreement and its repeated violations of its spirit and text are clear and evident, as documented in nine letters from the Iranian Foreign Minister to the EU's foreign policy chief as the coordinator of the JCPOA over the past year and a half." The spokesperson did not refer to the content of these letters. Qasemi's remarks come as Reuters reported that Iran, despite its public protests against new U.S. sanctions, did not formally object to the implementation of the nuclear agreement during the Joint Commission meeting of the JCPOA in late June. Qasemi further stated that "Iran's options are very broad and, if necessary, include ending all commitments" regarding the nuclear agreement. The Iranian Foreign Minister had previously stated that "the JCPOA is not Iran's only option," and that U.S. officials' options "are not infinite, and Iran's choices are not limited." Mohammad Javad Zarif had stated on Tuesday, August 8, that the U.S. cannot "impose the cost of halting" the Vienna nuclear agreement on the Islamic Republic and that if U.S. officials want to "stop this agreement," they must "pay the cost." According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, unnamed U.S. officials have said that Trump does not present the JCPOA as aligned with U.S. national security interests in his speech, claiming that Tehran violates the "spirit" of the agreement by conducting ballistic missile tests and interfering in regional disputes. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also warned that "any action against the armed forces of the Islamic Republic, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, will face a proportional and firm response from the Islamic Republic." Iranian officials have warned in recent days, ahead of the U.S. President's speech, that potential U.S. sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards would be considered a "declaration of war" and would receive a "suitable response." Meanwhile, Ismail Qaani, the deputy commander of the Quds Force, in a speech referring to the U.S. President's positions against this institution, stated: "Any nonsense they say will be to their detriment, and the Islamic system will deal with them with full authority." He added: "They have become desperate. Trump must know that we have sent many tyrants like him to the grave and we know how to fight against America." While Donald Trump is delivering his speech regarding his new strategy towards Iran, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it is adding the Revolutionary Guards to its sanctions list. In the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson's remarks, previous claims by Iranian officials regarding the "defensive purpose of Iran's missile program," "support for regional peace and stability and countering destabilizing and divisive actions to create tension and conflict," and "the Islamic Republic's fight against terrorism" were reiterated. Trump has repeatedly stated that the Islamic Republic has not adhered to the "spirit of the nuclear agreement" by continuing its missile activities, which were intended to alleviate Western concerns about threats from Iran.