US must rejoin JCPOA: Pak ex-envoy

Pakistan's former ambassador to India and senior analyst strongly believes that if the US wants to improve its ties with Iran it should first join the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as a confidence building measure.

News ID: 71545

Date: 03 August 2018 - 12:06

Islamabad(Defapress)-In an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) President Abdul Basit said that agreement was sacrosanct.

“I think the US would do great if it can rejoin that comprehensive agenda,” he said.

Former ambassador said the US President Donald Trump made the claims regarding improving of ties with Iran without any preparation. “Entire international community would like Iran-US relations to improve,” he said.

Basit said, 'Iran is our important neighbor, brother, our friend and we would like Iran’s relations with the US to improve. There is no question about that, but I think we need to prepare for that, US needs to prepare for that.'

He added that best starting point in this regards would be if the US rejoins the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The US President Donald Trump has recently said the US is ready to hold talks with Iran without any preconditions.

However Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi, reacting to the statement, said the Islamic Republic of Iran’s logic is based on dialogue and interaction, demanding mutual respect and compliance with the international commitments, in contrast to sanctions and pressures.

Abdul Basit expressing his views said Afghanistan is one area where Iran, Pakistan and Russia can cooperate constructively.

“Afghanistan is a problem for all the three countries, and I think behind the scenes we are cooperating in many ways so let us hope that Afghanistan becomes a country where all our three countries including China can join hands to push Taliban and Afghan government towards genuine reconciliation,” viewed the IPRI head.

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