US in violation of nuke deal, only ‘language of force’ works with them – Iranian parliament speaker

Published time: 8 May, 2018 14:48

Edited time: 8 May, 2018 14:49

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© Raheb Homavandi / Reuters

Iran’s speaker of parliament said Washington has failed to uphold its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, just hours before President Donald Trump is expected to announce whether the US will quit the accord on Tuesday.

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Ali Larijani accused the US of falling short of its obligations as a signatory to the landmark agreement, noting that “it seems you can only speak with the Americans in the language of force, and there is no other solution.” His comments were reported by Iranian news agency IRNA.

According to the parliament’s website, Larijani also said on Tuesday that any attempts by Trump to dismantle the nuclear deal would only serve to unify the Iranian people and encourage “the great Iranian nation to continue on the path of the Islamic Revolution firmly behind the leadership of its supreme leader."

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), popularly known as the Iran nuclear deal, called for Tehran to surrender 98 percent of its enriched uranium, as well as to submit to international inspections of its nuclear-related facilities, in exchange for sanctions relief. The 2015 agreement was signed by the five permanent UN Security Council members (Russia, China, the US, UK, France) and Germany.

Trump has repeatedly slammed the deal as ineffective, going so far as to accuse Tehran of violating the terms of the agreement. However, Washington’s European allies say the deal should not be abandoned, and the according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tehran has so far been in full compliance with its commitments under the agreement.