US Representative on International Disarmament: Iran Has Not Complied with the JCPOA at All

The US representative for international disarmament reiterated the Trump administration's stance on Friday, September 23, stating that Iran is not fulfilling its commitments under the JCPOA. Robert Wood, speaking at a press conference in Geneva, stated: "If you consider Iran's missile activities, its support for Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, its assistance to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Palestinian group Hamas, or its support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen, we believe that Iran has not complied with its obligations under the 2015 nuclear agreement at all." According to Reuters, he referred to the preamble of the Vienna agreement, which states that the signatories of the JCPOA expect the agreement to "positively contribute to peace and stability in the region and globally." Donald Trump is expected to decide next month on Iran's compliance with the JCPOA provisions. He stated on Thursday that Iran has not adhered to the spirit of the JCPOA. In another part of his remarks, the US disarmament representative said Washington wants to pursue all diplomatic avenues regarding North Korea's nuclear and missile programs until the end, while addressing weaknesses in the enforcement of sanctions against that country. Mr. Wood stated: "The sanctions against North Korea have not pressured that country as much as we want, and the reason is that they have not been implemented carefully and thoroughly." According to South Korea and Japan, the North Korean government fired its second missile over Japanese territory towards the Pacific Ocean on Friday. This will escalate tensions that had already risen after the recent test of North Korea's most powerful nuclear bomb. In the past, the US accused the Chinese government, North Korea's main trading partner, of not applying enough economic pressure on Pyongyang. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Tuesday that if China does not fully implement the latest UN Security Council resolution regarding North Korea, it will seek to impose economic sanctions against China. Robert Wood also stated on Friday that North Korea has exploited "gaps and weaknesses in the enforcement of sanctions" and secretly obtained necessary equipment for ballistic missiles and the development of nuclear warheads. "We want to close all these gaps." In response to the question of whether military action against North Korea is likely, he said: "We do not rule out any options, but for now, we are pursuing diplomatic solutions. We want to make the most of all diplomatic options." The US seeks to further isolate North Korea, reduce countries' relations, and even cut ties completely with Pyongyang. Robert Wood stated that China, like the US, supports the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and has supported UN sanctions against North Korea. However, he added that the Chinese government could take further actions, and its current dominant position in the North Korean crisis could play an important role. "We are currently at a crucial decision-making point in dealing with China."