Time to terminate illegal unilateral sanctions on Iran

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Sunday described the fourth round of the Omani-mediated Iran-US indirect talks held in Oman's capital Muscat as "difficult but useful", saying that the talks helped the two sides "better understand each other's positions and to find reasonable and realistic ways to address the differences".

Meanwhile, the AFP quoted an anonymous senior US official as saying that the fourth round went "positively", and that the US side is "encouraged by today's outcome and looks forward to the next meeting, which will happen in the near future".

As any other country, Iran has an inalienable lawful right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy under the nonproliferation treaty. Having shown Iran is fully prepared to continue its diplomatic engagement to ensure the already demonstrated peaceful nature of its nuclear program, the US should terminate its unilateral sanctions that have long been imposed on the Iranian people making their life difficult for decades.

Teheran has enough reasons to blame the US for weaponizing sanctions against Iran. The Iran nuclear issue has provided Washington with the leverage to contain the development of the Islamic republic, an archrival of the US' regional ally, Israel, to meet its own narrow ends.

Iran signed the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with the United Kingdom, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US. Under the deal, Teheran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

However, the US administration unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, and reimposed sanctions, prompting Iran to gradually reduce compliance with its nuclear commitments.

Efforts to revive the agreement have not achieved substantial progress.

Before the Muscat talks, the US imposed its latest sanctions on Iran to restrict its oil trade with China. The Treasury Department sanctioned the Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group refinery and three companies for operating a terminal at Dongying port in Shandong province, alleging they had purchased or facilitated the delivery of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Iranian oil.

China has always firmly opposed the US' abuse of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. The US should stop interfering with and undermining the normal economic and trade cooperation between China and Iran, as a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the US said.

If the US really wants to resolve the Iran nuclear issue, it should stay committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and avoid the use of force and illegal sanctions, which will only make the situation more complicated.

All parties should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, work actively to create the conditions necessary for the resumption of dialogue and negotiation, and refrain from actions that might escalate the situation.

They should also stay committed to the framework of the JCPOA as the basis for a new consensus. What has been achieved should not be squandered. Instead of hollowing out the JCPOA, the US should demonstrate political sincerity and play its due role in peacefully resolving the issue.

The Iran nuclear issue is related to many factors that have accumulated over decades. All parties should stay committed to a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, and seek consensus through consultation.

History has proved that acting from a position of strength is not the key to resolving difficult issues. Upholding the principle of mutual respect is the only viable path to find the common ground that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all parties and thus reach a solution that meets the expectations of the international community.