03 APRIL 2021

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION

China and Iran signed a ‘strategic cooperation pact’ establishing a strategic blueprint for “reciprocal investments in the field of transport, ports, energy, industry and services”. 

Earlier this week, China and Russia called for the US to unconditionally return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and revoke the unilateral sanctions against Iran following former US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal is an agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme reached in Vienna on 14 July, 2015 between Iran and the P5+1,  the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – China, France, Russia, UK, US – and Germany together with the European Union.

Under the accord, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities and allowed international inspectors to assess Iran’s nuclear programmes in return for relief from the US and international sanctions.

 But in May 2018, US President Donald Trump abandoned the nuclear deal and imposed economic sanctions against Iran and threatened other countries and firms that continue trade with Iran.

 The US-Iran conflicts intensified in the West Asia regions and took a detrimental impact on global affairs all these years.

 Meanwhile, the Joint Commission of the JCPOA was held virtually on 2 April 2021 and emphasised the commitment to preserve the JCPOA and recognised the prospect of return of the US to the JCPOA as declared by the US President, Joe Biden.