Nuclear deal can’t be renegotiated, says Iran

There will be no renegotiation of Iran’s nuclear deal, Majid Ravanchi, Iranian deputy foreign minister, said on Tuesday.

President Barack Obama struck the deal in July 2015 as a way to pre-empt Iran’s drive to develop atomic weapons, but there have been concerns that Donald Trump, the incoming president, could scrap the deal.

In an interview with the Iranian newspaper Etemad, Ravanchi insisted on keeping all arrangements of the nuclear deal, saying further changes are non-negotiable.

The agreement is supposed to make sure Iran uses its nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes, preventing the regime in Tehran from gaining nuclear weapons instead.

In exchange, the international community pledged to lift economic sanctions.

The deal was negotiated between Iran and all five permanent members UN Security Council, plus Germany, in Vienna.

“It is important for all parties to keep their commitments,” Ravanchi pointed out, saying it might be time to undo the whole deal if signatory countries opt out at will.

Trump has repeatedly pledged to do just that.

Nevertheless, Ravanchi said the agreement could still be in danger.

He criticised US sanctions, which were not part of the deal, that make it difficult for banks to invest in Iran.

In order to ease financial boundaries, Iranian officials are currently in Brussels, negotiating with representatives of the European Union.

A lack of foreign investment could also endanger a possible re-election of moderate Iranian President Hassan Rowhani next May.