UN Guterres Asks US to Remove Sanctions against Iran

In a report to the UN Security Council, Guterres urged the US to “extend the waivers with regard to the trade in oil with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and fully renew waivers for nuclear non-proliferation projects”.

“I appeal to the United States to lift or waive its sanctions outlined in the plan,” he said, also appealing to Iran to return to full implementation of the deal.

The 15-member council on Tuesday discussed the secretary-general’s biannual report on the implementation of a 2015 resolution that enshrines the nuclear deal between Iran, the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia, and China.

Guterres’ appeal to Washington comes amid talks to revive the deal – known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – under which Iran accepted curbs on its nuclear program in return for a lifting of many foreign sanctions against it.

Iranian Government Spokesman Ali Rabiyee said on Tuesday that Tehran is still waiting for the political decisions of other parties, specially the US, to decide about holding the next round of Vienna talks.

“Our views are very clear to all parties, and we are aware of their positions on differences. We have made it clear to all parties that all sanctions that violate or impede the full implementation of the JCPOA should be lifted. We also know what steps we should take if the United States takes this step and all parties reaffirm their commitment to the JCPOA,” Rabiyee told reporters in a press conference in Tehran.

“As for how the Vienna talks will continue, we will have to wait for the outcome of the meetings to become clearer,” the spokesperson added, saying, “The important thing is that the talks have reached a point where all parties have to make their own decisions. We are waiting for the other parties, including the United States, to announce their political decisions so that we can talk more clearly about the next round of talks.”

Asked about Iran-IAEA relations if the agreement between the two sides is not renewed, Rabiyee said, “Previously, the agreement between Iran and the IAEA was renewed due to the positive atmosphere and promising prospects for reaching an agreement.”

“We are considering the need and possibility of extending the agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and we will consider all options in this regard. Iran’s relations with the IAEA will be based solely on safeguards if this agreement is not renewed, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will not make any further commitments,” he added.

“The law of the parliament regarding the obligations and duties of the government is quite clear and so far it has moved in the same direction. No decision has yet been made on the subject of the quarterly agreement with the Agency and how it will continue or not, and information will be provided as soon as a decision is made,” the spokesman said.

Also, last week, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister and top negotiator Seyed Abbas Araqchi underlined that Tehran has already made its tough decision to save the agreement and the time is now ripe for other parties, specially the US, to act similarly to revive the deal.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has already made its tough decision. When the United States quit the JCPOA and Iran decided to stay in it, this was Iran’s big and tough decision, which has kept the JCPOA alive up to the present,” Araqchi said.

Iran’s top negotiator in the Vienna talks added that it is now the other parties’ turn, and they must decide in view of the negotiations that we held thus far to reach a final conclusion on how to revive the JCPOA, so that the two sides could reach an agreement.

He noted that Iran and the remaining signatories to the JCPOA have so far held six rounds of negotiations in Vienna to that end and have “almost reached final stages”.

“There are still outstanding issues Iran and the G4+1 group of countries have held adequate discussions about and now the time is ripe for the other side to act,” Araqchi said.

The US, under former President Donald Trump, left the nuclear deal in 2018 and initiated a “maximum pressure” policy against Iran, prompting Tehran to take remedial measures by gradually reducing its nuclear commitments under the deal.

Meantime, last week, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh underlined that it is now time for the US to make up its mind and return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) by lifting illegal sanctions and effectively implementing its final commitments.

Khatibzadeh made the remarks in reaction to recent allegations by the US and French officials who said they are waiting for Iran to go back the deal.

He stressed that Iran has never left an international agreement, and said, “The US and the Europeans know best that Iran made its decision by remaining in the agreement and made it survive when the US unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and imposed illegal and oppressive sanctions against the Iranian people.”

He emphasized that Iran’s position has not changed since the beginning of the Vienna talks, and said, “We demand the lifting of US sanctions, their verification and then the cessation of compensatory measures and the resumption of Iran’s commitments.”