The document says the US in 2018 “illegally and unilaterally” withdrew from the agreement, which had been in force since 2015.
The West needs to “show political will” and take steps to restore the nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA) with Iran. Russia, China and Iran said in a joint statement issued by Russia, China and Iran as part of the agenda of the sixth meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors.
“Our countries have consistently provided strong support for the JCPOA. […] Our support for the nuclear deal has not changed since 2018, when the US illegally and unilaterally withdrew from the agreement, imposed unilateral illegal sanctions and applied a policy of maximum pressure against Iran,” Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted the text of the three countries’ joint statement as saying.
“China, Iran and Russia believe that the provisions of the JCPOA remain in force, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution,” the statement said.
The three countries’ statement also said France, Germany, Britain and the US “regrettably” continue to ignore questions on the deal’s renewal due to “their own political considerations”
History of the nuclear deal
The nuclear deal between the US (under Barack Obama’s administration), Russia, China, the UK, France, Germany and Iran was struck in 2015. The agreement limited Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Washington withdrew from the pact in 2018 when then-president Donald Trump deemed that Iran had not actually abandoned its nuclear program.
The United States then reinstated its sanctions. In response, Iran reneged on some of its commitments under the agreement, including resuming uranium enrichment beyond the agreed 3.67% level.
