Iran: Biden should act indiscriminately to undo Trump mistakes

Iran said Tuesday the global community wants the incoming administration in the United States to reverse course and honor international law, calling on the new White House team to avoid a selective approach in making up for the “stain of shame” it will inherit from its predecessor.

“Today, America’s accountability and respect for international law and norms are a global demand. The new US administration should not act selectively when it comes to compensating for the record and, in fact, the stain of shame left by the previous administration,” Ali Rabiei, the Iranian government’s spokesman, said at a media briefing in Tehran.

“The US will soon have a fresh opportunity to sincerely and unconditionally return to its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and open new horizons for its relations with Iran and the international community, instead of acting on the temptations [to do things] that result in widespread violations of international law and crimes against humanity in seemingly civilized ways at the expense of global peace and security as well as the interests of the Iranian and American people,” he said, according to Press TV.

He was referring to the resolution that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

President Donald Trump withdrew the US in May 2018 from the JCPOA and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran lifted under the deal.

The fate of the agreement is now hanging in the balance after the European co-signatories — France, Britain and Germany — failed to counter those sanctions as required by the JCPOA, prompting Tehran to suspend parts of its commitments in retaliation.

Trump’ successor, Joe Biden, has pledged to rejoin the accord if Iran returns to compliance.

Biden will be inaugurated as the 46th US president on Wednesday after winning the election in November.

“Tomorrow, the evil Trump administration will come to an end and the United States will have a new president who has the opportunity to represent the loud voice of the American people for the revision of the approaches that led to the US humiliation, confusion and isolation over at least the past four years,” Rabiei said.

He also stressed that the Islamic Republic is currently focused on the full revival of the JCPOA by all parties and expects that the new US administration will, in turn, focus on gaining Iran’s trust through complete and immediate implementation of all its commitments.

Explaining Iran’s position on Washington’s possible return to the nuclear deal, he said, “The US government must first fulfill its obligations under the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231. This is the only way forward for the new administration in America.”

The Iranian official also noted that Tehran had received no messages from Biden’s team.

Source: Iran Daily