Telegraph: UK reassesses support for JCPOA after Akbari execution in Iran

MOSCOW, January 15 – RIA Novosti. According to newspaper reports, the UK may end its support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (KOEP or “nuclear deal”) after the execution of Iranian-Iranian national Alireza Akbari Telegram Citing senior sources in the British government.

Britain is reassessing its support for the Iran nuclear deal after the execution of a British-Iranian citizen.

Sources say Britain is reconsidering its stance as the situation “has changed significantly since the start of the negotiation process”.

Iranian media reported on Saturday that Iranian authorities had executed the death penalty for Alireza Akbari, who holds British-Iranian citizenship and was previously sentenced to death for spying for the British intelligence services. Earlier this week, Britain urged Iran to cancel Akbar’s execution.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley said London has temporarily recalled the UK’s ambassador to Tehran, following the execution of a British-Iranian national in Iran. Britain imposes sanctions on Iran’s Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri

In 2015, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia, the United States, France and Iran signed a nuclear agreement called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (COEP), which includes lifting sanctions in exchange for limiting Iran’s nuclear program. In May 2018, the United States, led by Donald Trump, withdrew from the JCPOA and reinstated sanctions against Tehran. In response, Iran announced a gradual reduction in its obligations under the agreement, waiving restrictions on nuclear research, centrifuges and the level of uranium enrichment.

Negotiations were held in Vienna to renew the JCPOA and to lift Washington’s sanctions on Tehran. In December 2021, the parties agreed on two draft agreements, in which the European side also included the positions of Iran. Iran spokesman Bagheri Kyani said talks were going well, but US State Department spokesman Ned Price rated the progress in Vienna as modest, urging Tehran to take the issue seriously.

On August 22, 2022, Iran sent its reply to the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, regarding the draft agreement text on the restoration of the Iran nuclear deal, and also expressed its opinion on the “remaining issues” in the negotiations. . The EU described Iran’s response to the nuclear deal proposal as constructive and said it was consulting with the United States for further steps. The Iranian side received a response from the United States on August 24, 2022.