Salehi: After the US Elections, the JCPOA May Face Tough Days

Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, emphasized on Thursday that Tehran has adhered to its nuclear agreement with six world powers (JCPOA) and stated that after the results of the US presidential elections are known, the JCPOA may face tougher days. According to Fars News Agency, Salehi, speaking at the 'European Council on Foreign Relations' in London, referred to 'the developments affecting the fate of the JCPOA' and stated: 'Considering this year's US presidential elections, the JCPOA may have tougher days ahead, and I do not rule out that the new US government may create risks for the implementation of the JCPOA.' The US presidential elections will be held in November this year, and Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, has strongly criticized the six-power agreement with Iran. Mr. Trump has previously stated that this 'catastrophic' agreement has given many concessions to Iran in exchange for minimal concessions. In addition to criticizing the nuclear agreement, Trump opposes the Obama administration's approach to Iran and has stated that if he wins, he will seek to renegotiate the nuclear agreement with Iran. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate, supports the 2015 nuclear agreement to limit Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions. However, she agrees with implementing a broader regional strategy to counter the 'bad behavior' of the Iranian government. According to Fars, Salehi has acknowledged a positive role for 'Americans in the success of the JCPOA.' The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization emphasized that the US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and the elimination of two regional enemies of the Islamic Republic, namely the Taliban and Saddam, helped resolve Iran's nuclear case. Salehi referred to his meeting with 'Philip Hammond,' the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, and stated: 'Iran is pressuring the other party to take steps forward in the implementation of the JCPOA; next week, the foreign ministers of the 1+5 will negotiate about this in New York.' After the JCPOA, Iran has stated that it has not been able to benefit from all the economic advantages of this nuclear agreement, claiming that the US, as one of the main parties in the nuclear negotiations, has not taken necessary actions to facilitate Iran's economic relations with the international community.