Iran’s 3rd phase of reducing JCPOA commitments to be announced today or tomorrow

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Iran's President described the process of negotiations between Iran and the signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) progressive and stated that despite the settlement of a key part of disagreements with Europe, we have not reached the final agreement yet”.

Speaking on Wednesday in a cabinet session, President Hassan Rouhani added, “In this framework, Iran is taking its third step in reducing its JCPOA commitments and its details will be announced today or tomorrow”.

“For example, if we had a disagreement on 20 issues, these disagreements are now in three issues and most of them have been resolved but we have not reached the final point yet. I don't know if we can reach a final agreement by today and tomorrow, so we'll take the third step and announce the details of this third step today and tomorrow and act on it,” he continued.

Dr Rouhani called Iran's strategic patience after the US’ withdrawal from the JCPOA a clever one, stating, “Iran took the first step and waited for two months. We talked to China, Russia and the Europeans in the same period but did not get the desired result. Although they advised us not to take the second step, we took the second step because they did not do anything important. After the second step, we engaged in negotiations again”.

The President added, "During this period, we took some steps. We were very far away in the first phone calls, but now we understand each other well. They know what we want and we know what they want clearly. In many cases, we have become closer and in some cases, we still have disagreements and have not reached the final step".

Dr Rouhani announced determination of a five-month framework with the French by the end of 2019, saying, "They say they will coordinate and discuss with the Europeans, China, others, and the US itself. We spoke with France on this issue as the representative to the European Union and the three countries”.

Referring to Iran’s third step, Dr Rouhani pointed out, “This third step may not seem very shocking but in essence, it is extremely important and in my opinion this step is the most important step we have taken and its effects will be great, and, God willing, with this step, the Atomic Energy Organisation will accelerate processes”.

"In addition to taking the third step, we will continue negotiations and if we come to an agreement, there is still a way for negotiation, logic and agreement," the President said.

He went on to refer to hardliners within the United States, the Zionist Regime and some reactionary leaders in the region as three groups who do not want a fair and right relationship between Iran and the United States.

Referring to the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1, Dr Rouhani said, "Effort were made to make the agreement work well, but the United States withdrew from it without a reason and even a pretext, but the non-Americans were more successful in this regard".

The president said, “Within the US, there are hardliners, including the Zionists, neocons and racists, who do not want a good relationship between Iran and the United States to happen”.

Dr Rouhani also referred to the racist Zionist Regime and some reactionaries in the region as the second and third groups opposing these relations, saying, "If they find out that one day a fair relationship can be established between Iran and the United States, they know that their death is imminent because they are just like bubbles on water and will disappear easily”.

The president added, "Whenever we want to do something, these three groups, which unfortunately dominate the White House, will not let it happen. The reason that the US left the JCPOA is the dominance of these three groups over the White House. They withdrew from the JCPOA and created problems for themselves, us, and the world, and of course we took our steps well, correctly and firmly”.

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