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Iran’s top diplomat also noted that in 2023, under the 2015 nuclear deal which Trump walked out of in May 2018, Iran’s parliament, the Majlis, was set to ratify the Additional Protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It is a voluntary agreement that allows IAEA inspectors extensive access in Iran to ensure it does not have a secret nuclear weapons programme. As part of the nuclear deal, Iran already observes the Additional Protocol. Ratification by the Majlis would make it a more permanent commitment. Also under the nuclear deal, the US Congress was meant to drop sanctions on Iran.
Zarif told reporters that he has proposed that Iran and the US make those moves immediately.
“If Trump wants more for more, we can ratify the Additional Protocol and he can lift the sanctions he set,” Zarif said. “He has said that he will take any measure to Congress—fine. Lift the sanctions and you’ll have the Additional Protocol sooner than 2023.”
2.4 EU calls on Iran to stop increasing enrichment
The European Union (EU) said it is “extremely concerned” about Iran’s announcement that is is enriching uranium to above 3.67%, Reuters reported on July 8.
Iran began increasing enrichment of low enriched uranium (LEU) on July 1, as it said it could no longer hold out for Europe’s financial channel called Instex , citing a lack of effort on the part of Europeans.
The EU said it calls on Tehran to “stop and reverse” any action that goes against the world powers’ nuclear deal with the Islamic republic, a spokeswoman for the organisation said.
On July 3, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) “must comply with the terms of the agreement to the same extent as Tehran does.”
In a direct hit at the EU, the Iranian president was suggesting a total abrogation of the JCPOA by Tehran if the EU continues to drag its feet on its end of the deal after the US unilaterally pulled out in May last year, placing Brussels directly in the line of fire between Washington and Tehran.
“You need to decide whether you support the JCPOA or not. If you support it, then everyone should fulfil its provisions as much as Iran does,” Rouhani said. The president also called on the so-called EU3 (Britain, France and Germany) to ensure the implementation of the nuclear deal after the Europeans repeatedly dragged their feet with the implementation of their euro-denominated Instex payment system .
Iran's enriched uranium stockpile has passed the 300-kilogram limit under the 2015 nuclear deal, an "informed source" said on July 1.
2.5 South Ossetia attempts soft diplomacy with Iran
Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia has voiced its openness to boosting relations with Iran, Shahr Online reported on July 29.
The people of South Ossetia have many historical and cultural commonalities with Iran. The South Ossetians descended from Iranian tribes who spread
8 IRAN Country Report August 2019 www.intellinews.com