“As stressed repeatedly by the country’s senior-ranking officials, the recent measure passed by the US House of Representatives and Senate on the extension of sanctions against Iran is in violation of the nuclear deal and the US commitments to international law which prohibits intervention in internal and international affairs of other countries,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Bahram Ghasemi said on Friday.
Ghasemi’s remark comes in reaction to the passing of a 10-year extension of sanctions against Iran that was passed overwhelmingly by the US Senate on Thursday just weeks after the House passed it 419-1. The bill will now be sent to the White House, where President Barack Obama is expected to sign it into law. The act is set to expire at the end of 2016.
“According to the basic principles governing international relations, the US government is bound to its international commitments, and the political developments inside the US and the relations between the country’s legislative and executive branches cannot be used to justify any failure or refusal for doing its international duties,” Ghasemi stressed.
He went on to add, “the US president has agreed within the framework of the nuclear deal that he would use his authority to prevent the legislation and enforcement of any measures in violation of the JCPOA, such as the recent act by the Congress.”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has proved its commitment to its international agreements, but has considered the necessary predictions for any possible scenario and is prepared to effectively and strongly defend the rights of the Iranian nation under any circumstances,” he said.
The Iranian diplomat further added, “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue its close monitoring of the US government moves and submit a full report to the committee supervising the implementation of the JCPOA in order to take the necessary decisions and measures.”
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