Iran explains concerns over US sanction act in Vienna

A staff member removes the Iranian flag from the stage after a group picture with foreign ministers and representatives of the Unites States, Iran, China, Russia, Britain, Germany, France, and the European Union during the Iran nuclear talks at the Vienna International Center in Vienna on July 14, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

Iran has explained Washington’s violations of JCPOA to a joint commission tasked with monitoring the implementation of the historic nuclear deal.

"Iran explained its concern on the extension of the Iran Sanctions Act(ISA)... as being a reintroduction of sanctions. I think the joint commission took Iran's concern very seriously," said Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi on Tuesday.

In a 99-to-0 vote on December 1, the US Senate passed the ISA, sending the measure to the White House for US President Barack Obama to sign into law. The measure was first introduced in 1996 to punish investments in Iran's energy industry based on accusations that Tehran was pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Earlier in the day, a high-level commission monitoring the implementation of the nuclear deal was held in Vienna upon a request by Tehran.

During the meeting, Iran stressed that ISA was a violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China -- plus Germany started implementing on January 16, 2016.

Despite Iran’s criticism, and calls made by other members of the commission for the suspension of ISA, the US representatives at the meeting claimed that the current administration has engaged in a series of measures to render it ineffective, while noting that it has not been signed by Obama.

The ISA’s extension came despite numerous reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirming Iran’s commitment to the JCPOA.

“The extension of the Iran Sanctions Act is a breach of the US obligations under the JCPOA and must be compensated in an effective way,” said Araqchi before the meeting.


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