Salehi: The West Has Not Fulfilled Its Commitments Under the Nuclear Agreement

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization and Vice President of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, stated that Tehran has adhered to all its commitments under the Vienna nuclear agreement, while the West has failed to fulfill its promises. Salehi, who is in London for the World Nuclear Association meeting, told the British newspaper 'The Guardian' that if the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is to remain 'viable', both parties must meet their obligations. He remarked, 'As the International Atomic Energy Agency has pointed out, Iran has been committed, while it has become clear to public opinion that the other side has not fulfilled its promises; commitments such as the lifting of sanctions and the normalization of banking transactions, that trade would accelerate and economic relations would improve. These promises have not been realized to the extent we expected.' The JCPOA was agreed upon in July 2015 between Iran and six world powers to resolve Tehran's nuclear program. Salehi was the second member of the Iranian delegation in those negotiations, primarily discussing technical issues related to Iran's nuclear program with U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. Under the JCPOA, Iran suspends or limits many of its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of crippling international sanctions. This agreement has been in effect since January of last year; however, officials of the Islamic Republic, particularly Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have criticized that major banks and financial institutions are unwilling to cooperate with Iran, and Tehran has not benefited from the agreement with the international community. The Supreme Leader stated on the first of Farvardin in Mashhad that 'in this nuclear agreement, the Americans did not fulfill what they promised and did not do what they were supposed to do.' He also accused the U.S. of 'bad faith and breach of promise' regarding the JCPOA on the third of Shahrivar this year, saying, 'This experience teaches us that we cannot trust the promises of any government in America, and we should not take action based on their promises.' Tehran has demanded that the U.S. guarantee foreign banks that they will not be targeted by sanctions when dealing with Iran. This claim comes as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry emphasized that Washington has fulfilled its commitments under the JCPOA. The Guardian reports that major European banks are cautious about trading with Iran due to concerns over other U.S. sanctions against Iran related to terrorism, and the political situation in the U.S. remains uncertain ahead of the November elections. In recent months, Iran has signed multiple contracts, including the purchase of over one hundred passenger planes from Airbus, but these contracts reportedly face challenges in securing financing and guarantees from European financial institutions. In another part of his interview with The Guardian, Salehi stated, 'The nuclear agreement is in the interests of both Iran and the West, and it would be regrettable if it were to collapse.' He added, 'The JCPOA could serve as a new political and diplomatic model for resolving major international crises, so both parties must implement it properly to maintain the integrity of this agreement and prevent its disintegration.'