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Iran calls on U.S. not to extend sanctions

5 December 2016 13:37 (UTC+04:00)
Iran calls on U.S. not to extend sanctions

By Gunay Hasanova

Iran’s top official has called on the United States to refuse from extending the sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi has called on the U.S. to stop implementation of a bill on extending sanctions against the Islamic Republic, Mehr reported on December 5.

Salehi expressed “serious” concerns over the extension of Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) in the US Congress during his meeting U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz in Vienna on December 4 on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Conference on Nuclear Security.

He underlined that Washington should be committed to the nuclear deal signed last year between Tehran and the six world powers (P5+1), emphasizing that the Islamic Republic is fully committed to all of its obligations under the deal.

He further said that Tehran reserves its right to respond to the actions of the United States.

Moniz, for his part, said that will deliver Iran’s message of concern to President Barack Obama.

The American official also underlined its country’s commitment to the nuclear deal, adding that Obama will use his authority to prevent implementation of certain parts of the ISA which contradicts the JCPOA.

The U.S. Senate voted unanimously on December 1 to extend the president’s authority to impose sanctions on Iran for another decade.

While Barack Obama is expected to approve the legislation on the renewal of sanctions against Iran for the next 10 years, Tehran has sharply criticized the motion describing it as a breach of the last year’s landmark nuclear deal.

The Iranian government described the Senate vote as a “violation” of the nuclear agreement, and the developments angered Iranian President Rouhani, who has become the face of the deal and Iran’s outreach to the West and his administration.

Rouhani, speaking in an open session of parliament on Sunday, has demanded that President Barack Obama allow sanctions on Tehran to expire before he leaves office in January.

The president said the bill to extend sanctions is a violation of a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

Rouhani added that Obama is "obliged" to let the sanctions expire and not sign the bill extending the blockade.

The JCPOA is an international document endorsed by the Security Council of the United Nations and Iran believes that the proper implementation of the nuclear deal would be a considerable achievement for the international community and the participants of the deal.

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Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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