Iranian Speaker Decries US Justification for Defying JCPOA

TEHRAN (defapress) – Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani denounced as “childish” the current US administration’s pretext for objecting to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying various administrations have to abide by the treaties and international regulations.

News ID: 66423

Date: 15 October 2017 - 18:44

"The justification used by Americans (for undermining the JCPOA) is that the nuclear deal has been based on the previous (administration’s) methods and that it is not binding for the new administration,” Larijani said on Sunday, noting that with such a "childish justification” even economic accords cannot be established among countries.

The Iranian parliament speaker made the comments in a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Ara Babloyan on the sidelines of the 10th general assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), held in Russia’s St. Petersburg.

Taking a swipe at the US administration for the "recurrent breaches” of the JCPOA, the nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), Larijani said the other members of the Group 5+1 are opposed to such American conduct.

Such US behavior would cause trouble in the world, Larijani deplored.

He further touched on the bilateral relations between Iran and Armenia, saying the two neighbors can enhance trade ties by encouraging their business people.

The Iranian speaker also hailed Armenia for its role in the regional peace and stability, calling for closer regional coordination amid the tensions created by the US.

For his part, Babloyan said US unilateral measures would cause trouble, describing the JCPOA as an international agreement among multiple parties.

The Armenian speaker also reaffirmed his country’s support for Iran, saying Yerevan is eager to broaden trade and economic cooperation with Tehran.

Last week, Armenia’s Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan paid a visit to Iran with a high-ranking delegation during which the two sides signed three cooperation agreements in diverse fields.