On the fifth anniversary of the nuclear agreement concluded by the world powers with Iran in, July 2015, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell stressed that the preservation of the agreement ‘’is more important than ever.’’
The JCPOA was concluded on 14 July 2015 and endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council. But the United States decided in May 2018 to withdraw from the agreement and to restore sanctions against Tehran.
‘’As the Coordinator of the JCPOA Joint Commission, I am determined to do everything possible together with the remaining participants of the JCPOA and the international community to preserve the agreement. We should not assume that an opportunity will arise again in the future for the international community to address Iran’s nuclear programme in such a comprehensive manner,’’ Borrell said in a statement.
‘’It is a historic multilateral achievement for global nuclear non-proliferation and is contributing to regional and global security,’’ he insisted.
He added: ‘’The JCPOA remains the only tool to provide the international community with the necessary assurances regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. It consists of nuclear-related commitments to be implemented by Iran in exchange for sanctions-lifting by the international community with a view to normalising trade and economic relations with Iran.’’
The agreement also provides for unprecedented monitoring and verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and I commend the continuous professional, technical and impartial work of the agency. The full implementation of the JCPOA by all sides remains crucial.
He regretted the US decision to withdraw from the agreement and said the remaining participants of the JCPOA ‘’continue to work collectively to address, within the framework of the agreement, existing concerns regarding nuclear implementation, as well as the wider impacts of the withdrawal of the United States and its re-imposition of sanctions.’’
Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency detailed the latest ways that Iran has exceeded limits agreed to under the 2015 nuclear deal and failed to cooperate with monitoring obligations that predate the accord.
An IAEA report shared with the governing board said Iran has been enriching uranium hexafluoride gas to 4.5% of the fissile isotope uranium-235 (U-235) over the past year. By 20 May, it had stockpiled 1572 kilograms of enriched uranium, ostensibly for use in civilian reactors.