Rouhani: US making ‘ridiculous, childish’ efforts to trigger sanctions snapback on Iran

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has dismissed as ridiculous the US push to trigger a mechanism in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that would snap back international sanctions on Tehran.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Rouhani said that following its “unprecedented” and “scandalous” defeat at the UN Security Council to extend an anti-Iran arms embargo that was due to expire in October through a resolution, the US resorted to the “snapback” mechanism enshrined in the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Action (JCPOA).    

“They thought that they could save their face in this way, and declared that they could use the [snapback] mechanism in the JCPOA, which is one of the ridiculous statements of history,” Rouhani said.

“I don’t think that anyone who is cognizant of the ABC of law and politics and accepts the ABC of interaction does not realize this that if one completely left an agreement he cannot return to it after two or three years and claim that I want to use this privilege. All understand this even a child,” he added.

Rouhani noted the US claim that it can use the sanctions snapback mechanism against Iran has domestic consumption and is part of a propaganda campaign ahead of the November presidential election in the country.

The Iranian president then referred to the stance by the nuclear deal’s remaining signatories that met in Vienna on Tuesday and said they once again underscored that Washington is not entitled to use the mechanisms stipulated in the agreement as it had left the accord.

JCPOA Joint Commission: All parties determined to preserve Iran deal despite US pressure

The remaining signatories to the JCPOA say they will do everything possible to preserve the landmark accord amid US efforts to restore UN sanctions against Iran.

“The US has made a vain and childish attempt,” Rouhani said, adding that the consensus among UN Security Council member states against the US is unprecedented in the history of the world body and marks another “big victory” for Iran.

New UN council president stands by dismissal of US sanctions move on Iran

Meanwhile, Niger, the UN Security Council president for September, said on Tuesday it stands by a declaration that no further action can be taken on a US bid to trigger a return of UN sanctions on Iran because there is no consensus in the 15-member body.

The United States is trying to invoke the snapback mechanism in the JCPOA despite its withdrawal from the accord in May 2018 in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorses the deal.

US attempts to re-impose sanctions on Iran doomed to failure: Russia's Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister says all US attempts to re-instate sanctions on Iran are doomed to fail.

But Indonesian UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, the council president for August, said that he was “not in the position to take further action” because 13 council members had expressed their opposition.

“We’re staying with this decision... that was stated and announced by the president of the Security Council last month,” said Niger UN Ambassador Abdou Abarry.

The remarks by the Niger UN envoy came a day after Rouhani told Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou in a telephone call that abuse of international organizations by certain countries is the root cause of many problems that currently face the world.

Rouhani: Abuse of intl. organizations by some countries, root cause of global problems

Iran’s President Rouhani says abuse of international organizations by certain countries is the root cause of many international problems.

“The root cause of many problems in today’s world is the abuse of international organizations by some countries. I’m very happy that Iran and Niger share the view that international relations must be based on justice and lofty human values, which are in turn rooted in independence, solidarity and dignity,” he said.

Thirteen council members argue that Washington’s attempt to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran is void as it is using a process agreed under the JCPOA, which the United States quit in defiance of international criticism.

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