Iran Says US’ Irresponsibility No Excuse for EU’s Failure on JCPOA

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Ali Rabiei said President Hassan Rouhani has reminded the European leaders during a recent UN trip that the US government’s irresponsibility had nothing to do with their commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The EU officials have been told that the US policy is no justification for their failure to honour their legal commitments, the spokesman added.

On the US push for talks with Iran during President Rouhani’s stay in New York, Rabiei said diplomacy and a final solution were at hand, but the US government prevented it.

“The responsibility for the lack of formation of dialogue in New York lies directly with the US government, although Trump does not have the courage to do the right thing.”

Rabiei added that the American officials have realized that the policy of maximum pressure on Iran is futile, because Tehran will never enter talks under the sanctions, imposed by the US or any other country.

Asked about a new plan for talks, known as ‘more for more’, the spokesman explained that the initiative would totally come within the framework of the JCPOA, stressing that it excludes subjects such as Iran’s missile power or a severance of ties with the groups that receive Iran’s spiritual support.

The president has made it clear for the European parties to the nuclear deal that Iran is ready for the US presence in the JCPOA meetings provided that Americans lift the sanctions, Rabiei added.

He further described Iran’s new initiative for regional peace, known as the “Hormuz Peace Endeavor” or HOPE, as a replacement for the US-led “provocative and hostile” coalition against Iran in the Persian Gulf.

Unlike the US-led coalition, the coalition of HOPE proposed by Iran excludes foreign powers in the Persian Gulf security arrangement, does not omit any of the regional countries in the efforts for collective security, is not against any state, and pursues peace, Rabiei underscored.

The spokesperson also touched on the plans to boost the country’s economy and promote trade, saying oil incomes have been excluded from the next year’s national budget.

He noted that the oil revenues would be spent on construction projects.

Iran’s efforts to cut reliance on the oil incomes began long before the US administration announced plans in 2018 to drive the Islamic Republic’s oil exports down to zero.

Tensions between Iran and the US have escalated since US President Donald Trump walked away from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers in May 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.