Iran's Foreign Ministry Responds to Trump: Tehran Will Not Initiate Exit from JCPOA

On Friday, October 13, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement in response to Donald Trump's new strategy regarding the Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, with six world powers. The statement emphasized that Iran would not be the initiator of exiting the JCPOA. On the same day, Trump announced his administration's strategy towards Iran, stating that based on the information available to him, he could not confirm Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement. The U.S. President also severely criticized the actions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the region and beyond, allowing the Treasury Department to add this entity to its sanctions list. In response, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated: "The JCPOA is a valid international document and an unparalleled achievement in contemporary diplomacy that is neither negotiable nor changeable. The JCPOA is not a bilateral agreement that loses its validity if one party withdraws; it is a document endorsed by the international community as part of UN Security Council Resolution 2231." Nonetheless, the Iranian Foreign Ministry urged other countries involved in the nuclear agreement and the international community not to allow the U.S. President to "mock" this agreement. The statement continued: "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not initiate an exit from the JCPOA, but if Iran's rights and interests under the JCPOA are not respected, it will end all commitments and pursue its peaceful nuclear activities without any limitations." Following Trump's announcement of Iran's non-compliance with the JCPOA, the U.S. Congress will have 60 days to decide on imposing new sanctions against Iran. The new U.S. strategy has prompted reactions from the leaders of three European countries (Germany, France, and the UK) and the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In another part of the statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry responded to Trump's criticisms regarding Iran's approach in the region. The U.S. President stated that they would work with their allies to counter the destabilizing actions of the Iranian government in the region and its support for proxy terrorists. In contrast, Iran rejected the accusation of engaging in "destabilizing actions" in the region, asserting that it has been an effective member of international initiatives to end conflicts in Syria and Yemen. The statement noted: "Iran has been an effective member in all global initiatives to end these conflicts and has played a significant role alongside Russia and Turkey in reducing tensions in Syria." The Iranian Foreign Ministry further accused the U.S. of "illegal, military, and hegemonic interventions in the region," attributing the crises in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain to the U.S. Iran provides financial and military support to the Assad regime in the Syrian civil war, which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of displaced persons. The Iranian Foreign Ministry also asserted: "The role of the IRGC in the frontline fight against terrorists in the region is indisputable." Trump had previously criticized the IRGC's actions in the region and beyond, stating that he would grant the Treasury Department the authority to add the IRGC to the sanctions list.