Economic and industrial development by depending upon internal capabilities and regional cooperation is the priority of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran’s achievement of the complete cycle of nuclear fuel production technology is one of the glorious gains, which is attained without begging to the aliens and by depending merely on the capabilities of the Iranian Youth and scientists. This technology has never been utilized to threat the others and to produce weapons, because this is against the principles and believes originating from Islamic thoughts and edicts of supreme leadership based upon being forbidden and prohibition of the utilization of the weapons of mass destruction.
Despite this, Islamic Republic of Iran went through diplomacy and dialogue as a goodwill gesture and with respect to international norms accepted some commitments to reduce utilization of its nuclear technology on voluntary basis in return for ease of political and economic pressure and removal of sanctions. The JCPOA is a multilateral, comprehensive and balanced agreement which is concluded after years of technical and complicated negotiations. But, one year ago, the president of USA, without knowing legal value and political importance of the JCPOA, withdrew from it unilaterally. This step by USA was an end point to all international hopes about effectiveness of dialogue and respect of governments to principle of peaceful settlement of international disputes by political means (UN Charter, Chapter VI). Unilateral withdrawal of USA from a multilateral agreement, which was concluded after dialogue of more than ten years, except being disregard and violation to accepted international norms and customs, what else interpretation could have for the public opinion of the independent nations of the world?
After increased sanctions and pressure by USA against Iran, and failure to provide timely and effective implementation of the JCPOA by other parties, the decision of Iran to revise and reduce its voluntary measures under JCPOA and cease performing its commitments in part, was a national decision to be made by the government. This decision was not a decision of a party or a particular group. As the government began to negotiate with the support of the nation, it suspended a significant portion of its nuclear facilities and equipment in exchange for the Western parties’ commitment to lift the sanctions. Following the conclusion of the JCPOA the Islamic Republic of Iran behaved precisely in accordance with this treaty and the IAEA inspection standards and proved its adherence to the provisions of the JCPOA. Iran did not fail to fulfill its obligations. But the United States has not only violated the international law by unilaterally withdrawing the JCPOA, but also eliminated any possibility of tolerance and hope for fruitfulness of negotiations by restoring its unilateral and illegal sanctions. With the silence of the international community against such actions of US, unilateralism is now becoming a modality, which is very dangerous for international peace and security.
The US continues to exert maximum pressure to dismantle the JCPOA and UNSC resolution 2231. This malign policy if continued will be detrimental to the peace, stability and security in the region and beyond. Silence and confirmation of these malign policies by the independent states of the world will surely have a collective disadvantage for the international community that increasingly requires more dialogue, interaction and cooperation to solve major problems such as civil wars, poverty, hunger, terrorism, extremism, crisis of the displaced persons, the identity crisis, cultural poverty and illiteracy, racism, Islamophobia, social gaps, environmental problems, global warming, arms races and the possibility of dangerous global wars.
The presence of the US military fleet in the Persian Gulf is not a new event. For many decades, the United States has deployed its warship in the Persian Gulf with an interventionist approach and threatened the Islamic Republic of Iran. Did the Islamic Republic of Iran ever camp around the United States borders? Now it is the time to ask who is beating the war drum. Who threatens whom? There are many US military bases and troops around Iran borders. Isn’t it obvious interventionism and bullying?
The Persian Gulf can certainly be a zone of peace and friendship. Independent Persian Gulf states have enough capability to provide peace and security by virtue of regional cooperation.
Now the public opinion of the free and independent nations of the world face a serious test: How will the international community respond to US unilateral and dangerous behaviors? Even if these behaviors do not receive any answer other than silence, the Islamic Republic of Iran, as always will pursue a path of resistance relying on the rich culture of Iran and religious principles of Islam. Finally this victory will be also added to the glorious history of Iranian noble nation.
The writer is ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan.