Zarif: Adherence to the JCPOA is Not Iran's Only Option

Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reacted on Thursday, September 8, to a recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement, the JCPOA, stating that remaining in the JCPOA is not the only option available to Iran. In a tweet, the Iranian Foreign Minister wrote: 'If the goal is to preserve the JCPOA, there is no choice but to have the courage to fulfill commitments and normalize economic relations with Iran, rather than making irrelevant demands.' Zarif added that being committed to the agreement (JCPOA) in practice and not just in words is not the only option for Iran. In this tweet, he shared an image of a Reuters headline about the IAEA's report on Iran's compliance with the JCPOA. Reuters reported that the IAEA, in its second quarterly report following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and the resumption of nuclear sanctions against Iran, stated that Iran has adhered to the restrictions imposed on its nuclear activities according to the 2015 agreement with world powers. Following the U.S. exit from the nuclear agreement with Iran and six world powers on May 8 of this year, Washington announced that it would reinstate sanctions against Iran. In this context, Donald Trump announced on August 6 that part of the sanctions against the Islamic Republic, which had been suspended after the nuclear agreement was reached, would be reactivated. The second round of sanctions, which primarily targets Iran's oil industry, is set to be implemented on November 4, with U.S. officials stating that they aim to bring Iran's oil exports to zero by that time. Following the U.S. exit from the JCPOA, U.S. officials declared that 'anyone who trades with Iran will not have a deal with the United States.' A large number of European companies have halted their operations in Iran and exited the country. Britain, France, and Germany have stated that they will remain committed to the agreement. However, America's European allies, who are seeking to preserve the nuclear deal, have been trying in recent months to find a way for banking transactions with Iran so that Iran can continue its oil exports. Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister has deemed the actions of these three European countries insufficient, stating that their measures are more about positioning than being operational. In this context, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, stated on September 7 that the government should not have hope in Europe regarding the JCPOA and the economy. The leader added: 'There is no harm in communicating and continuing negotiations with Europe, but while continuing this work, you should give up hope regarding issues such as the JCPOA or the economy.' Khamenei addressed the government: 'Give up hope in Europe regarding issues like the JCPOA.' U.S. officials claim that Iran has not adhered to the spirit of the JCPOA due to its 'destabilizing' actions in the Middle East, including missile activities and support for regional militia groups. The U.S. is seeking to renegotiate the JCPOA, Iran's ballistic missile program, and its regional activities, while Iran has rejected any renegotiation of the JCPOA. In this context, France has called for negotiations regarding Iran's missile program and role in the region. The IAEA confirmed Iran's compliance with the JCPOA. Iran denied reports of travel restrictions on French diplomats to Tehran. Reuters reported a significant drop in Iran's oil exports this month. Khamenei addressed the government: 'Give up hope in Europe regarding issues like the JCPOA.'