US State Department's Reaction to Araqchi's Statements: JCPOA is Not on the Table Now

In response to the statements made by Abbas Araqchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, regarding the irreversibility of the nuclear agreement with the West and the necessity for new negotiations, the US State Department stated that 'the JCPOA is not on the table at the moment.' On Monday, September 5, the State Department spokesperson, in response to Radio Free Europe about Araqchi's remarks, also announced: 'As the President and Secretary of State have clearly stated, the United States will ensure by any means necessary that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.' The department indicated that the US is prepared to utilize all its national power capacities for this purpose. The State Department also emphasized that from Washington's perspective, 'diplomacy is the best way to achieve a sustainable and effective solution.' Araqchi, who has repeatedly mentioned the irreversibility of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in recent days, stated on September 3: 'But there will definitely be other forms of agreement that we will pursue.' Araqchi did not provide further details about these 'forms.' He elaborated that 'we must enter the scene with a different perspective... new negotiations must take shape.' Araqchi had previously stated that reviving the JCPOA in its current form is not possible. Mohsen Fathi, the Deputy Chairman of the Social Commission of the Parliament, told the media that Araqchi had informed representatives in a meeting that 'the JCPOA is not revivable.' Araqchi also emphasized the implementation of the 'Strategic Action Law' approved by the previous parliament. The 'Strategic Action for the Removal of Sanctions' law was passed by the parliament and approved by the Guardian Council in December 2020. This law obligated Hassan Rouhani's government to begin uranium enrichment to 20% and suspend the implementation of the Additional Protocol amid nuclear negotiations with the West. Former President Donald Trump issued the order for the US to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement in 2018, which led to its collapse. The aim of this important agreement, which was concluded after lengthy negotiations in the 2010s between Iran on one side and the West, China, and Russia on the other, was to limit the scope of the Islamic Republic's nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions against Iran. Ali Bagheri Kani, who became the acting Foreign Minister of Iran after the death of Hossein Amirabdollahian in a helicopter crash, announced in late July Iran's readiness to negotiate with the US regarding the JCPOA. Masoud Pezeshkian, during this year's presidential election campaign, was in favor of reviving the JCPOA, but after winning, he did not explicitly discuss this promise, and his Foreign Minister not only deemed the nuclear agreement irretrievable but also stated that the conflict between Iran and the US is not resolvable and can only be managed.