UK, France, Germany 鈥榬egret鈥� latest US move on Iran

Iranians shop for vegetables in the capital city of Tehran, on May 26, 2020. Iran on May 25, reopened major Shiite shrines across the Islamic republic, more than two months after they were closed, as it reported its lowest deaths from coronavirus since March. (AFP)
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  • Iranian Atomic Energy Organization spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said Thursday Washington鈥檚 鈥渄esperate鈥� decision was aimed at distracting attention from its 鈥渃ontinued defeats at the hands of Iran鈥�

LONDON: Britain, France and Germany on Saturday strongly condemned a US decision to end sanctions waivers for companies from nations that remain in a nuclear accord with Iran.
The waivers were part of the landmark agreement signed with Tehran in 2015 that sought to limit Iran鈥檚 nuclear ambitions in return for lifting crippling economic sanctions.
They allowed European, Chinese and Russian companies to work on the conversion of a heavy water reactor in Arak, a major industrial city in western Iran.
鈥淲e deeply regret the US decision to end the three waivers covering key JCPOA nuclear projects in Iran,鈥� read a joint statement from the three European powers.
鈥淭hese projects, endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231, serve the non-proliferation interests of all and provide the international community with assurances of the exclusively peaceful and safe nature of Iranian nuclear activities.鈥�
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the decision to end the waivers earlier this week.
The nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed by the US, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia as well as Iran.

HIGHLIGHT

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the decision to end the waivers earlier this week.

However, the US pulled out in 2018 and the latest decision on waivers, following further sanctions, raises the prospect that the agreement could collapse.
Russia has also attacked the decision by Pompeo, with Moscow claiming US foreign policy was becoming 鈥渕ore dangerous and unpredictable.鈥�
In Tehran, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi condemned the US decision as a 鈥渇lagrant violation of Resolution 2231 and the Charter of the United Nations.鈥�
He said Iran was ready to 鈥渢ake legal action and act appropriately鈥� if the move harms its nuclear rights, without elaborating.
Iranian Atomic Energy Organization spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said Thursday Washington鈥檚 鈥渄esperate鈥� decision was aimed at distracting attention from its 鈥渃ontinued defeats at the hands of Iran.鈥�