Ayt. Hashemi Shahroudi: World should not follow US in leaving JCPOA

“The countries of the world should not be afraid of US,” said Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, the Chairman of Iran’s Expediency Council.

The cleric made the remarks while meeting with Austrian Ambassador to Iran Stefan Scholz in Tehran on Tuesday.

They exchanged views on the bilateral ties between the two countries and the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran in regards to regional and international developments.

“We expect to see good cooperation between Iran and Austria to solve the issues of the world of today and the problems of the region including terrorism because today terror and terrorism have seriously troubled the world,” said the Iranian official after describing the positions undertaken by Austria in dealing with international issues as wise and prudent.

“In the case of the JCPOA, the Islamic Republic of Iran proved it is committed to its obligations stipulated in the agreement but the other side has breached the agreement in regards to some things like monetary and banking issues,” said the Grand Ayatollah, after describing the US as an irresponsible signatory of the Iran nuclear agreement.

Representatives of Iran, US, UK, Russia, China, France, Germany, and the EU signed a treaty on July 14, 2015, in Vienna of Austria which was titled as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), AKA the Iran nuclear deal.

“Today it has been proved to all the world that US is following the Zionists in doing such acts of unwise and unjust nature and we are witnessing that everybody is protesting against this unthoughtful and ignorant decision,” said Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi touching upon the recent measure of trump announcing al-Quds as the capital of the “Israeli regime.”

“Thank God, all countries of the world has denounced this US measure in a way and we expect them not to be afraid of US,” said the Iranian official.

“Also we expect to see the same thing about the JCPOA and the countries of the world not to follow US and let relations grow to expand common interests,” reassured the Iranian official.

The Austrian envoy to Tehran, for his part, referred to 500 year old relations between Iran and Austria and voiced hope for expansion of ties.

“Austria, in the course of history, has always remained as an accompanying country with the Iranian nation and we hope to have more cooperation in diverse areas, as Austrian companies are willing to have a more active presence in Iranian industry and trade,” he said.


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