JCPOA implementation two-way street: Iran’s president

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says both sides to Iran’s nuclear agreement need to abide by their commitments if they want the deal to yield the best result.

“Both sides [to the Iranian nuclear agreement] need to be committed to the full and immediate implementation of what has been agreed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” Rouhani said in a meeting with visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende in Tehran on Wednesday.

The Iranian president reaffirmed his country’s commitment to its obligations under the JCPOA, saying Iran expects the other side to do the same.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has so far fulfilled all its commitments, but some parties [to the deal] have fallen short of honoring some of their obligations,” Rouhani said, adding “the JCPOA serves the interests of all and is a win-win agreement.”

He noted that Iran’s negotiations with the P5+1 group of countries over Tehran’s nuclear program showed that global disputes can be settled best through dialogue.

On January 16, Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia – plus Germany started implementing the JCPOA that they had clinched on July 14, 2015.

Under the nuclear agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in return for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian president welcomed consultations between Iran and Norway on different political and international developments.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) and Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende shake hands in Tehran on August 17, 2016. ©IRNA

Pointing to the unprecedented rise of terrorism and extremism in the region, Rouhani warned against the spillover of the threats to the entire region, and called on all countries to join hands to combat the scourge.

The Norwegian official, for his part, urged further promotion of Tehran-Oslo ties following the implementation of the JCPOA.

He also called for a global campaign against terrorism and expressed his country’s readiness to cooperate with Iran in this regard.