Iran's Reaction to Tillerson's Statements: The U.S. Cannot Decide on Revising the Nuclear Agreement

A number of Iranian officials reacted on Friday, January 13, to the statements made by Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of State regarding the revision of the nuclear agreement with Tehran, rejecting them. Rex Tillerson, who participated in various Senate committee question-and-answer sessions in recent days, stated on January 12 that he would conduct a 'full review' of the nuclear agreement with Iran but did not call for the agreement to be rejected. Morteza Sarmadi, Deputy Foreign Minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister, Bahram Qasemi, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, and Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Foreign Relations Council appointed by the Supreme Leader, responded to Tillerson's remarks, emphasizing that the JCPOA is an international agreement and not just a deal between Iran and the U.S. In this context, according to Fars News Agency, Morteza Sarmadi stated that 'the JCPOA is not an agreement between Iran and the U.S. that the U.S. can decide to revise or renegotiate.' According to Sarmadi, the decision to revise the JCPOA 'has no basis and lacks any international support or legitimacy, and I am sure these officials will have no choice but to come to terms with the realities when they come to power and focus all their efforts on the better, more accurate, and faster implementation of the JCPOA.' Majid Takht-Ravanchi also stated, as reported by IRNA, 'We have repeatedly announced that the JCPOA will not be reopened under any circumstances, and we will not allow such an event to happen, and this is not only our position but also the position of all members of the 1+5.' Bahram Qasemi, another Iranian Foreign Ministry official, criticized Tillerson's statements, saying, 'It is better for someone who has not yet assumed responsibility to think about the consequences and effects of his statements before he takes up his official position.' According to Fars, he emphasized that 'the JCPOA is an international agreement that was not only achieved between Iran and the U.S. but is also an agreement between Iran, the 1+5 group, and the European Union, which has also been approved by the United Nations.' We have repeatedly announced that the JCPOA will not be reopened under any circumstances, and we will not allow such an event to happen, and this is not only our position but also the position of all members of the 1+5. Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran. Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Foreign Relations Council, also joined the ranks of opponents of revising the Iranian nuclear agreement, stating that 'the JCPOA is not subject to revision; it is an international commitment that is written and cannot be revised.' The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the JCPOA, was signed in July 2015 between Iran and six world powers, including the U.S., Russia, China, France, and the UK, along with Germany in Vienna, under which Tehran suspended many of its nuclear activities and transferred its uranium enriched above 20 percent abroad. Since the implementation of this agreement in January of last year, international sanctions against Iran for pursuing its nuclear program have been reduced or lifted. However, Iranian officials express dissatisfaction that the U.S. is obstructing the full implementation of this agreement and the lifting of sanctions. The Obama administration has denied this claim. In a week, Donald Trump's presidential inauguration ceremony is set to take place, and his policy regarding the JCPOA remains unclear. During his election campaign, Trump called this agreement 'the worst deal ever' and stated that if elected president, he would tear up this agreement. However, in recent days, his nominees for the positions of Secretary of State, Defense, and CIA have expressed different views from Trump in various congressional sessions, stating that the United States should come to terms with this agreement but that oversight should be intensified. Rex Tillerson expressed the opinion that 'we should not ignore violations of international treaties, like what happened with Iran.' Mike Pompeo, the nominee for the CIA, also claimed on January 13 that 'Iranians are professionals at cheating and must be closely monitored.' He added, 'Relying on the inspection regime of Iran's nuclear facilities is good but not enough.' General James Mattis, the nominee for Secretary of Defense, also stated on January 13 that the nuclear agreement with Iran is an 'imperfect arms control agreement, not a treaty of friendship, but when the U.S. promises, it respects it.' Earlier, Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated on January 7 that 'I don't think this agreement is going to be torn up, but I expect there to be strict oversight of this international agreement.' In this context, Rex Tillerson will conduct a 'full review' of the nuclear agreement with Iran. General James Mattis: The U.S. must respect the nuclear agreement with Iran. The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization: 130 tons of uranium will soon be imported into Iran. Trump's nominee for the CIA: Iranians are professionals at cheating.