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On January 5th, Iran announced that it would enrich uranium without any restrictions, in a further reduction of its commitments to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, the Iran Nuclear Deal).
As 5th & final REMEDIAL step under paragraph 36 of JCPOA, there will no longer be any restriction on number of centrifuges
This step is within JCPOA & all 5 steps are reversible upon EFFECTIVE implementation of reciprocal obligations
Iran's full cooperation w/IAEA will continue
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 5, 2020
Iranian State television said Iran would not respect any limits set down in the pact on the country’s nuclear work: whether the limit on its number of uranium enrichment centrifuges to its enrichment capacity, the level to which uranium could be enriched, or Iran’s nuclear Research and Development activities.
“Iran will continue its nuclear enrichment with no limitations and based on its technical needs,” a statement said.
Furthermore, it said that if US sanctions on its economy are lifted, it would quickly fall back into compliance.
“If the sanctions are lifted … the Islamic Republic is ready to return to its obligations,” the statement said. It added that Iran will continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
An unnamed US official further reported that Iran’s missile forces were at a heightened state of alert, and it was unclear if it was a defensive or offensive move.
“They’re clearly at a heightened state of alert. Is that heightened state of alert to be better prepared defensively or to be better prepared offensively? That can’t be determined at this point,” the official said. “But we’re watching it closely.”
Major General Hossein Dehghan, the military adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said that Iran would retaliate directly against US “military sites.”
“It might be argued that there could be proxy operations. We can say America, Mr. Trump, has taken action directly against us — so we take direct action against America.”
He further said that Trump and the US were at fault, and they began “the war.”
“It was America that has started the war. Therefore, they should accept appropriate reactions to their actions,” he said.
“The only thing that can end this period of war is for the Americans to receive a blow that is equal to the blow they have inflicted. Afterward they should not seek a new cycle,” Dehghan said.
Dehgahn also responded to Trump’s threat to include Iranian cultural sites among 52 targets the US had selected to strike in the event of Iranian retaliation.
“If he says 52 we say 300 — and they are accessible to us,” Dehghan said.
“No American military staff, no American political center, no American military base, no American vessel will be safe. He doesn’t know international law. He doesn’t recognize UN resolutions either. Basically, he is a veritable gangster and a gambler.”
Meanwhile, both Iranian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi, as well as Foreign Minister Javad Zarif replied to Trump’s threats to target Iranian cultural sites.
The ICT Minister likened Trump to a “terrorist.”
Like ISIS, like Hitler, Like Genghis!
They all hate cultures. Trump is a "terrorist in a suit". He will learn history very soon that NOBODY can defeat "the Great Iranian Nation & Culture".#HardRevenge#QasemSoleimani https://t.co/N2iQ5AMX7M
— MJ Azari Jahromi (@azarijahromi) January 5, 2020
Foreign Minister Javad Zarif attempted to explain international law to Trump and Co., but it is becoming more evident that no such thing exists.
Those masquerading as diplomats and those who shamelessly sat to identify Iranian cultural & civilian targets should not even bother to open a law dictionary.
Jus cogens refers to peremptory norms of international law, i.e. international red lines. That is, a big(ly) “no no”.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 5, 2020
A reminder to those hallucinating about emulating ISIS war crimes by targeting our cultural heritage:
Through MILLENNIA of history, barbarians have come and ravaged our cities, razed our monuments and burnt our libraries.Where are they now?
We’re still here, & standing tall.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 5, 2020
Finally, in response to all of it, US President Donald Trump tweeted that his social media posts would serve as notification to US Congress that if Iran strikes any US targets, Washington’s response would follow, and it would potentially be disproportionate.
These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner. Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2020
“They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people and we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way,” Trump told reporters on January 5th.
Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives is attempting to reduce Trump’s decision-making capacity.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to her Democratic colleagues that the House will vote this week on a war powers resolution “to limit the President’s military actions regarding Iran.”
“It reasserts Congress’s long-established oversight responsibilities by mandating that if no further Congressional action is taken, the Administration’s military hostilities with regard to Iran cease within 30 days,” Pelosi wrote.
She called last week’s airstrike “provocative and disproportionate,” and said it endangered U.S. troops while escalating tensions with Iran.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
- Trump Threatens Iraq with “Very Big Sanctions” If US Troops Are Expelled
- Nasrallah: Expulsion Of U.S. Forces From Middle East Is Apt Response To Assassination Of Soleimani
- Iran Says Its Response To Assassination Of Soleimani Will Be ‘Against Military Sites’
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