Western leaders warn Iran about nuclear deal – POLITICO

ROM – Tehran’s recent efforts to advance its nuclear program and block the work of monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) risk a complete collapse of Iran’s nuclear deal, the leaders of the United States, Britain, Germany and France warned on Saturday.

The agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was largely left in pieces after it was abandoned by then-US President Donald Trump in May 2018. When the United States withdrew and reintroduced sanctions, Iran abdicated its own commitments. .

US President Joe Biden has expressed a willingness to return to the agreement, but negotiations have stalled, especially after the election of Iran’s new president, Ebrahim Raisi, in June.

The statement from the four Western powers that are part of the JCPOA came after a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome between Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

In their statement, the leaders cited recent efforts by Iran to speed up its nuclear program and efforts to block the work of inspectors. “We agreed that continued Iranian nuclear progress and obstacles to the IAEA’s work will jeopardize the possibility of a return to the JCPOA,” they said.

The leaders said they met “to discuss the risks posed by Iran’s escalating nuclear program to international security.”

“We expressed our willingness to ensure that Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon, and shared our serious and growing concern that while Iran halted negotiations on a return to the Joint Action Plan since June, it has accelerated the pace of the provocative nuclear steps, such as the production of highly enriched uranium and enriched uranium metal. ”

“Iran has no credible civilian need for any of the measures,” they added, “but both are important for nuclear weapons programs.”

Iran has repeatedly claimed that it was the US withdrawal from the agreement and Washington’s refusal to live up to its commitments that led to the clarification of the agreement. It has also insisted that it does not intend to develop nuclear weapons.

In their statement, the four Western leaders stressed Biden’s willingness to rejoin the agreement

“The current situation underscores the importance of a negotiated solution that ensures the return of Iran and the United States to full compliance with the JCPOA and provides the basis for continued diplomatic commitment to resolve the remaining points of contention – both our concerns and those of Iran,” they said. “In this spirit, we welcome President Biden’s clearly demonstrated commitment to bring the United States back to full compliance with the JCPOA and to remain in full compliance as long as Iran does the same.”

They also stressed the potential benefits to Iran of restoring the agreement.

“Returning to JCPOA compliance will result in the lifting of sanctions with long-term consequences for Iran’s economic growth,” they said. “This will only be possible if Iran changes course. We urge President Raisi to seize this opportunity and return to a good faith effort to conclude our negotiations as a matter of urgency. It is the only sure way to avoid a dangerous escalation that is not in the interest of any country. ”

Russia, China and the EU are also guarantors of the JCPOA, and the four leaders said they were committed to working with Moscow, Beijing and Brussels to revive the nuclear deal.

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