Zarif: The Only Authority for Addressing the JCPOA is the International Atomic Energy Agency

Mohammad Javad Zarif, in an interview with Iranian state television, reacted to the United States' new strategy towards Iran and Donald Trump's statements regarding Tehran's non-compliance with the nuclear agreement. The Iranian Foreign Minister stated that he will soon send letters to the parties involved in the JCPOA. In his interview on October 14, Zarif said that the only authority for addressing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which was implemented following an agreement between Tehran, the Obama administration, and five other global powers, is the International Atomic Energy Agency. Zarif emphasized that despite the U.S. President's remarks about 'tearing up' the JCPOA during last year's election campaign and after his victory, 'you saw that this did not happen... the JCPOA is a solid document.' On October 13, Donald Trump announced his new strategy towards Iran, allowing the U.S. Treasury Department to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its sanctions list. Trump also did not confirm Tehran's compliance with the nuclear agreement. The U.S. President stated, 'We will not continue down a path where the predictable outcome is more violence and terror and a real threat of Iran developing nuclear weapons.' Following Trump's announcement, the U.S. Congress now has 60 days to decide on the imposition of new sanctions on Iran. The Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized in recent months that Iran has violated the 'spirit' of the JCPOA, endangering regional security through missile tests and its actions in the Middle East. Tehran, on the other hand, accuses the U.S. of ignoring the 'spirit' of the JCPOA and claims that its ballistic missile tests are 'defensive' and will 'continue.' In his television interview, Zarif stated that the Iranian government has taken and will take 'fundamental actions' in response to the U.S. actions and is 'monitoring all possible violations of the JCPOA.' Zarif also mentioned sending new letters to the parties of the nuclear agreement, adding that 'in the coming days, I will write a letter to Ms. [Federica] Mogherini and in a separate letter, I will emphasize that Trump's recent statements, according to Articles 26, 27, and 28 of the JCPOA, violate this international treaty and contrary to Trump's claims, it is the U.S. that has violated the JCPOA, not Iran.' Federica Mogherini, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, was the coordinator of the negotiations between Iran and the six global powers. Mogherini and other European leaders, along with China and Russia, have repeatedly emphasized the need for all countries to preserve the JCPOA in recent weeks. Zarif had previously spoken about the non-implementation of Articles 26, 28, and 29 of the JCPOA, which refer to the lack of 'hostile and direct influence' on the normalization of economic relations with Iran, the implementation of the JCPOA in a 'constructive atmosphere,' and that the U.S. government 'will refrain from re-imposing the sanctions specified in Annex 2' and 'will refrain from imposing new nuclear sanctions within the framework of the legal powers of the President and Congress.' On the other hand, Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, in the only official meeting he has had with his Iranian counterpart since Trump took office, stated that from the perspective of the U.S. President, the so-called 'sunset' provisions in the nuclear agreement are an 'unacceptable' issue. Tillerson's remarks refer to the obstacles that Iran will face until 2025, which will gradually be removed. At that time, Tillerson stated that the parties to the nuclear agreement were expecting a more stable and calmer situation in the Middle East, but this has not happened, and Iran has supported Bashar al-Assad's regime, continued its ballistic missile tests in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and sent weapons to Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. However, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in his television interview, stated that the U.S. allies in the Middle East are 'notorious dictators.' In his speech on October 13 and the announcement of the new U.S. strategy towards Iran, Trump allowed his Treasury Department to impose sanctions on the IRGC. Trump has strongly criticized the actions and behavior of this entity in the region and beyond, and its support for 'terrorist actions.' However, despite some speculation about the possibility of designating this entity as terrorist, he stated that he gives the Treasury Department the authority to add the IRGC to the sanctions list. Meanwhile, Mohammad Javad Zarif and the Iranian President have recently emphasized their support for the IRGC. Zarif stated on Saturday night that this entity is 'dear and a source of pride for the people' and that Iranian citizens 'feel that it has been alongside the army in guaranteeing territorial integrity.' The Iranian Foreign Minister emphasized that 'the JCPOA cannot be terminated by U.S. domestic laws.' Currently, the U.S. Congress has a two-month window to address what the U.S. government calls the shortcomings of the JCPOA. In recent hours, several senior Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives have supported Trump's new strategy towards Iran, while Democrats have also raised criticisms. Republicans hold a majority in both the House and Senate. On Saturday, France, one of the countries involved in the nuclear talks, urged the U.S. Congress not to pave the way for the termination of the JCPOA. Senior European diplomats in the United States had previously supported the JCPOA and conducted consultations to preserve it. The nuclear agreement was reached in July two years ago.