Tasnim – An American analyst said Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has correctly said that renewal of anti-Tehran sanctions, known as Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), by Washington is a violation of the JCPOA, the July 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.





“…Ayatollah Khamenei is right; renewing the sanctions is tantamount (to) reneging on the nuclear deal,” E. Michael Jones, a political analyst in the US state of Indiana, told the Tasnim News Agency in an interview.

Following is the full text of the interview.

Tasnim: As you know, the US Senate on Thursday passed a 10-year extension of sanctions against Iran, sending the measure to the White House for President Barack Obama to sign into law. Members of Congress and administration officials have said the renewal of the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) would not violate the nuclear agreement with Iran reached last year. Do you think so? What might the future hold as the move by the GOP-controlled House came after Republican Donald Trump won the election last month?

Jones: First of all, we do not have a GOP-controlled House of Representatives. The American Congress is controlled by the Israel Lobby, and that is the reason for the lopsided vote in favor of continuing US sanctions against Iran. This is a clear violation of the nuclear agreement, which the United States cannot unilaterally abrogate. That means the US will be alone in the world in trying to enforce these sanctions, which means that they will not work. Other countries will step in and do business with the Iranians, to the detriment of US business interests.

Tasnim: Last week, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said extension of expired sanctions is a breach of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) commitments, stressing that Iran will definitely respond to such a move. “‘Starting a sanction (from the scratch)’ is no different from ‘renewing it after its expiration’, and the latter is (also an example of imposing) sanctions and a violation of the previous commitments undertaken by the opposite side,” the Leader stated. Do you believe that the US is going back on its promises?

Jones: Yes, Ayatollah Khamenei is right; renewing the sanctions is tantamount (to) reneging on the nuclear deal.

Tasnim: As you know, under the deal, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the UN Security Council and the US should be lifted. Iran has, in return, put some limitations on its nuclear activities. So far the JCPOA obligations have not been fully fulfilled. What should Iran and other parties involved in the deal do?

Jones: Iran should seek to isolate the United States from the other parties to the agreement, making sure that they will fulfill their end of the bargain, and Iran should do business with them instead.