Britain supports JCPOA as it allows improvement in Persian Gulf situation: Defense secretary

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace says London throws its weight behind an international nuclear agreement signed between Iran and major world powers in 2015 because the deal allows for an "improvement" in the Persian Gulf situation.

In an interview with the Doha-based television network Al Jazeera on Friday, Wallace stressed the importance of observing international law to ensure the continuation of trade through the Strait of Hormuz.

It is a priority for Britain and all European countries to enjoy the survival of free movement across the strategic strait, he added.

US President Donald Trump, a stern critic of the historic deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), unilaterally pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018, and unleashed the “toughest ever” sanctions against the Islamic Republic in defiance of global criticism although the accord has been endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231.

Following its much-criticized exit, Washington has been attempting to prevent the remaining signatories from abiding by their commitments and thus kill the historic agreement, which is widely viewed as a fruit of international diplomacy.

UK, France, Germany vow to hold out against US pressure on Iran

The remarks came a day after British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab hosted a meeting in Chevening in Kent with his German and French counterparts Heiko Maas and Jean-Yves Le Drian. The three top diplomats agreed to hold out against US demands to snap back all UN sanctions on Iran, despite intensified pressure from the White House, particularly on the UK government to fall into line.

The United States is trying to invoke the snapback mechanism in the multilateral nuclear agreement despite its withdrawal.

All the remaining signatories to the JCPOA say the US does not have the legal right to trigger the provision set out in the deal because of the pullout in 2018.

Washington also suffered a humiliating defeat in securing an extension of the UN arms embargo against Iran at the Security Council last month. Only the Dominican Republic voted ‘yes’ to Washington’s resolution calling for the extension of the embargo beyond October 18.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo then filed an official complaint with UNSC President Dian Triansyah Djani, accusing Iran of violating the JCPOA.

Read more: 

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• History proves Iranians will never give in to bullying, oppression: President Rouhani

Speaking at a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Wednesday, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said the path that the United States is pursuing in hostility with Tehran is a “dead end,” stressing that Washington has no option but to reverse course.

US anti-Iran efforts will come up against brick wall: President Rouhani

President Hassan Rouhani says the path that the United States is pursuing in hostility with Iran is a “dead end."

Rouhani said the US made “a strategic mistake” in 2018, when it unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and re-imposed economic sanctions against Iran, adding, “Although the Americans caused difficulties for us, they will not achieve their objective.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also said in a tweet on Thursday that if the European Union wants the country to resume its voluntary transparency-focused and confidence-building measures (CBMs) concerning its peaceful nuclear energy program, the bloc should resist the US' economic terrorism targeting the Islamic Republic.

Zarif to EU: Stand up to US if you want to implement JCPOA, build confidence

Iran says if the EU wants the country to resume its voluntary confidence-building measures, it should resist the US’ economic terrorism.

“If E3/EU want full implementation of CBMs & enhanced transparency that JCPOA provides, they should reject US #Economic Terrorism,” the top diplomat said.

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