The United Nations (UN) Secretary General has expressed his concern at the United States decision to withdraw from what is known as the Iran nuclear deal.
In a statement shortly after US President Donald Trump announced Washington’s withdrawal, UN chief António Guterres called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action a major achievement in nuclear non-proliferation and diplomacy.
In his widely anticipated announcement, Trump called the deal defective to its core despite the position of the other parties to the agreement and the UN arguing that Iran had been in full compliance.
President Trump called Iran a leading state sponsor of terrorism while rubbishing one of the major foreign policy accomplishment of his predecessor former President Barack Obama.
“After these consultations, it is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement. The Iran deal is defective at its core. If we do nothing, we know exactly what will happen. In just a short period of time, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror will be on the cusp of acquiring the world’s most dangerous weapons,” says Trump.
At the conclusion of his remarks, he immediately signed a memorandum to begin reinstating U.S. nuclear sanctions on Iran.
“As we exit the Iran deal, we will be working with our allies to find a real, comprehensive, and lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear threat. This will include efforts to eliminate the threat of Iran’s ballistic missile program, to stop its terrorist activities worldwide, and to block its menacing activity across the Middle East. In the meantime, powerful sanctions also go into full effect,” concludes Trump.
The analysis of the landmark 2015 JCPOA which included the EU, Russia and China, is that Iran had been in full compliance with its obligations while EU allies, in the main France and Germany, had urged the US to remain party to the agreement.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Frederica Mogherini says, “The EU regrets today’s statement by the President of the USA on the nuclear deal with Iran. Should the US reconsider their position, we would welcome it.”
“The US remains our closest partner and friend and obviously we will continue to work closely together on many other issues. But as we have always said, the nuclear deal is not a bilateral agreement and it is not in the hands of any single country to terminate it unilaterally,” adds Mogherini.
Of concern to the US are among others the sunset clauses in the agreement to some of the limits imposed on Iran, the countries separate ballistic missile programme and its growing influence in the Middle East, issues that are principally responsible for this decision.
The UN reaction came moments after President Trump spoke, the Secretary General’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says, “The Secretary General has consistently reiterated that the JCPOA represents a major achievement in nuclear non-proliferation and diplomacy and has also contributed to regional and international peace and security.”
“It is essential that all concerns regarding the implementation of the Plan be addressed through the mechanisms established in the JCPOA. Issues not directly related to the JCPOA should be addressed without prejudice to preserving the agreement and its accomplishments,” concludes Stephane.
In his reaction, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani indicated that they would continue to honour their obligations while expressing joy that President Trump, whom he called a nuisance, had left the agreement.
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