Iran sets 60-day deadline for new nuclear deal terms

TEHRAN (Xinhua/China Daily) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday in letters to five world leaders that Iran will scale back more compliance with a 2015 nuclear agreement in 60 days unless they keep promises with the deal, according to media reports.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a government meeting in Tehran, Iran.

Rouhani said Iran will increase uranium enrichment level and get ready for talks with Europe on Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in which wide-ranging sanctions on the Iranian economy was lifted and Tehran in return agreed to accept limits on its nuclear technology programme and allow inspections of its nuclear installations.
Prior to the president’s letters, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Tehran has decided to stop implementing some of its commitments pursuant to the nuclear agreement, official IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday.
The measures that Iran will adopt are enshrined by the Articles 26 and 36 of JCPOA, Zarif said upon arrival in Russian capital Moscow on Tuesday night.
According to the articles, Iran or any other signatory of the deal is entitled to stop implementing parts or all of their commitments under the document in case any party fails to remain committed to its obligations, he said, adding that Iran is not leaving the JCPOA, and rather, it is acting totally within the framework of Articles 26 and 36 of the deal.
“Unfortunately, the European Union and other members of the international community could not stand up to the US pressures,” he said, adding that Iran’s move provides “an opportunity for other parties to the deal to take required measures, not just issue statements.”

(Latest Update May 9, 2019)