Iranian Deputy FM in Japan for Talks

Heading a delegation, Araqchi arrived in the Japanese capital on Monday to meet with his Japanese counterpart in the context of regular consultations between Tehran and Tokyo.

He had earlier visited China to attend the Iran-China joint consultative meeting on the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

In Beijing, Araqchi held talks with China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu about the latest developments surrounding the JCPOA.

Last month, Iran took the 4th step in reducing its commitments under the JCPOA in reaction to the continued failure of the European parties to meet their obligations to the agreement.

In May 2018, US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the JCPOA.

Iran and the remaining parties launched talks to save the JCPOA after the US withdrawal, but the three EU parties to the deal (France, Britain, and Germany) have failed to ensure Iran’s economic interests.

The EU’s inaction forced Tehran to stop honoring certain commitments to the nuclear deal, including a rise in the stockpile of enriched uranium.

Iran maintains that the new measures are not designed to harm the JCPOA but to save the accord by creating a balance in the commitments.

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