Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that “the country’s nuclear deal, known as JCPOA, is not dead yet and if it stands by the next year, all the US arms embargo will be lifted,” Mehr News reports.
“We will be ready to trade arms as of next year,” he added, making the remarks at the session of Administrative Council of East Azerbaijan Province.
“Under the JCPOA, if it still stands by next year, the US arms ban on Iran will be lifted thoroughly and we can start buying or selling any kinds of weapons that we want,” he said, adding “Some want the deal not to survive, while it is a very important agreement regarding political and legal issues.”
Criticizing the US unilateral withdrawal from JCPOA, the Iranian President said “Risk aversion is the nature of trade and Americans have made cooperation with Iran very risky for European companies.”
He added, “The remaining parties to the JCPOA have promised to compensate for US’ withdrawal, but were unable to do so in action."
Rouhani continued, “We told them if they did not live up to their commitments, we will gradually decrease our commitments as well."
“We may reach positive results in negotiations in the coming weeks; but if we do not, we will take the third step firmer,” said the President, in reference to Iran's decision to reduce commitments to the JCPOA.
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