Velayati: Extrension of 20-year old sanctions breach of JCPOA

Tehran, Dec 3, IRNA – Head of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council Ali Akbar Velayati said on Saturday that no doubt that reimposing, confirmation and extension of sanctions under any excuse amounts to breach of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He made the remarks in a press encounter on the sidelines of a meeting with Russian special envoy on Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev responding to a reporter asking about Iran's stance vis-à-vis extension of sanctions by the US Senate. Of course, US president has not signed the bill for extending sanctions, but if he signs to finalize it, it is a blatant violation of the deal, he said. Iran has accepted limitations on its nuclear activities for a certain period in return for lifting all restrictions imposed on Iran's economy by the other side, Velayati said. The official also said that it is not acceptable to ink an accord on the one hand and resume sanctions on the other under various excuses of human rights or the so-called support for terrorism. The statement that Iranians are supporting Hezbollah, they are defending terrorism is illogical and really ridiculous, the official said, noting that aiding Hezbollah which defends Lebanon's territorial integrity and dignity against the expansionist goals of Israeli occupying regime is aiding terrorists but the Americans themselves support Daesh, an-Nusra and al-Qaeda to defend freedom seeking. They are misrepresenting the international and legal concepts and that nobody believes them, he said. The US and certain western states are violating human rights more than others and racial discrimination is on the increase in the United States, he said. 'Iran will stand against breaching the JCPOA and is fully prepared to retaliate for any violation and it will continue with peaceful use of nuclear energy within the framework of the international regulations,' he said. Approval of the inhuman extension of of 20-year old sanctions account for breach of JCPOA indicating the US anger at Iran and its allies victory in the region, he said. As to his talks with Lavrentiev, he said, 'Both of us agreed that the Syrian army and government, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah should continue fighting until full liberation of Aleppo.' Iran believes that no change in the Americans' behavior has been seen in the past 11 months since the conclusion of JCPOA, Velayati said. 1378/IRNA