Iranian Officials Reiterate: Unimaginable Decisions Will Be Made If the U.S. Exits the JCPOA

Iran has threatened multiple times in recent days through its Foreign Minister and spokesperson that if the U.S. exits the JCPOA, the Islamic Republic will make "unimaginable decisions" that "will not be pleasant for the U.S." According to ISNA news agency, Bahram Qasemi announced in a press conference on Tuesday, May 6, that if the U.S. exits the JCPOA, "decisions will be made that will be unimaginable for the U.S." He also stated that the U.S. exit from the JCPOA is "not simply possible" and that Iran's actions will be "painful" for the U.S. On the same day, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, also remarked that the Islamic Republic's reaction to a potential U.S. exit from the JCPOA will "not be pleasant at all" for the United States. Iranian officials have previously threatened that Iran's response to a U.S. exit from the JCPOA will be severe, without detailing the specifics. Earlier, Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards, had reported that this body had suggested to the government to inform Western officials that Iran would exit the JCPOA and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and would resume its nuclear activities "indefinitely." In this context, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, described a potential U.S. exit from the JCPOA as a "short-term problem" that the Islamic Republic can "easily" overcome. Rouhani added, "This issue and problem can never be long-term, and if the U.S. makes a mistake, it will later regret it and realize it has made a strategic error." He also mentioned that the government's currency program was "in line with readiness to confront" a U.S. exit from the JCPOA. Rouhani's remarks come at a time when the government has failed to control the prices of foreign currencies despite governmental directives and police pressures, with reports indicating that the dollar price has reached seven thousand tomans and the currencies of neighboring countries, including the Turkish lira and the Emirati dirham, have also seen significant increases. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has given European allies until May 12 to make reforms to the JCPOA; otherwise, he will not extend the suspension of related sanctions. Trump's four conditions for remaining in the nuclear agreement include "immediate access" for international inspectors to all locations and facilities in Iran, making nuclear restrictions permanent, guaranteeing no approach to nuclear weapons, and limiting Iran's ballistic missile program. Meanwhile, reports indicate that senior officials from Germany and Britain have intensified their efforts to preserve the nuclear agreement with Iran. Previously, several European diplomats had stated that the discussion of a "new agreement with Iran is not on the table"; rather, they are seeking an agreement that "can keep Donald Trump satisfied." In this context, the Iranian Foreign Minister, without detailing specifics, stated that various scenarios have been designed for a potential U.S. exit from the JCPOA, and officials from the Foreign Ministry are negotiating with other parties to the Vienna nuclear agreement. The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry also confirmed reports about a meeting between Mohammad Javad Zarif and John Kerry, stating, "We do not see America as just the Trump administration; many other individuals also influence the decision-making processes." The Boston Globe reported that John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State, has met with Zarif twice in the last two months in an effort to preserve the nuclear agreement with Iran, one of which occurred two weeks ago at the United Nations. Kerry, one of the architects of the JCPOA, had also warned on April 26 about the consequences of the United States exiting this agreement. Kerry's recent efforts to preserve the Iran nuclear agreement have drawn significant criticism among JCPOA opponents, with Rudy Giuliani, a supporter of Trump who currently represents him, stating that the possibility of violating the Logan Act, which prohibits American citizens from engaging with foreign governments in conflict with the U.S., should be examined.