Iraqi: We Will Not Negotiate Again on the JCPOA

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran reacted to the acceleration of actions by the U.S. President regarding the 'remedies' for the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA, emphasizing that 'we will not negotiate again on the JCPOA' and 'the JCPOA is not related to any other issues, whether missile discussions or regional matters.' Donald Trump stated that the Islamic Republic, by continuing its missile activities and its 'destabilizing' actions, is not loyal to the 'spirit of the JCPOA,' the nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group. In this context, the United States has taken extensive actions in recent months to encourage the international community to confront what Washington calls the Islamic Republic's 'destabilizing actions' in the Middle East, its ballistic missile program, or support for militia groups. In response, Iranian officials have not welcomed any efforts for what is termed 'reforming' the JCPOA. The Islamic Republic claims that its missile activities are defensive and that these missiles are not designed to carry nuclear warheads. The recent stance of Abbas Araghchi, Deputy of Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Foreign Minister, and one of Iran's negotiators in the nuclear discussions, was also in this vein. Mr. Araghchi, who heads the JCPOA Follow-up Committee, defended the JCPOA in a television program on Monday, February 28, and described the U.S. President as 'isolated' in the nuclear debate. He stated: 'Mr. Trump tried very hard but failed and became isolated; he raised missile issues and discussions about disturbances in Iran at the Security Council, where he failed several times.' The remarks of the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister came just two days after Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, announced that joint working groups of the European Union and the U.S. had begun addressing what are called the shortcomings of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). According to a Reuters report, these groups are set to discuss what changes should be made to the JCPOA and how they should be implemented. On the other hand, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations recently made statements indicating Washington's efforts to encourage Security Council members to focus on Iran's missile program and other actions. These news reports prompted the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister to reiterate that Tehran will not negotiate again on the JCPOA. Abbas Araghchi stated: 'The unfavorable atmosphere created by Trump still persists. We will remain in the JCPOA as long as we benefit from it.' He continued: 'Since Trump came, he has created an atmosphere of uncertainty that we have countered, and we will continue to confront American destructiveness.' This is not the first time that Islamic Republic officials have emphasized in response to the intensification of U.S. activities regarding the JCPOA that Iran will neither negotiate again on the JCPOA nor on missile activities. Among them, Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, stated in a television interview on January 23 that discussing the revision of the JCPOA is 'an outrageous statement stemming from the delusions of the U.S. President.' According to him, 'The recent actions of the U.S. to challenge the JCPOA are illegal, and there is no possibility of renegotiating this complete and indivisible document under any circumstances.' Meanwhile, Donald Trump has warned that if the European Union and the U.S. Congress do not amend this agreement, Washington will withdraw from it.