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Iran accuses Europe of ‘racism’ over nuclear deal move
TEHRAN, Jan 27, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Iran’s foreign minister on Monday said
Britain, France and Germany had shown “racism” by activating a dispute
mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal.
In a televised speech in Tehran, Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed the
“illusion” that “only the blue-eyed” could benefit from international law.
In the face of “repeated violations by the United States and Europe,
Iran does not have the right to use Article 36 (of the deal) despite several
written notifications to European officials,” Zarif said, without elaborating
how Iran had been denied that right.
“We do not accept such racism,” he added.
Britain, France and Germany announced on January 14 that they had
triggered the dispute mechanism provided under Article 36 of the nuclear
agreement, but have said they remained committed to the deal.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the deal is formally known,
had given Iran relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear
programme.
It has already been severely undermined by the United States’ 2018
withdrawal and reimposition of sanctions on key sectors of Iran’s economy.
Since May 2019, Iran has progressively scaled back some commitments
under the JCPOA in response to the US sanctions and Europe’s inability to
find a mechanism to circumvent them.
It has insisted these moves are reversible if its interests are
realised.
The 2015 nuclear deal was struck in Vienna by Iran, the three European
powers, the United States, China and Russia.
Its complaints mechanism allows parties to lodge complaints before a
joint commission in the case of claimed violations.
If the issue is not resolved by the commission, it can then be referred
to foreign ministers, an advisory board and eventually to the UN Security
Council, which could reimpose sanctions.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1930 hrs