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Iran rules out review of nuclear deal despite U.S. concerns

Xinhua, January 18, 2017 Adjust font size:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will not accept a review of its international nuclear deal, reported local media on Wednesday.

The international nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), resolved Tehran's decade-long controversial nuclear issue.

"Renegotiation (of the deal) is totally meaningless, and a return to the past is impossible," Rouhani said in response to recent remarks by Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump's choice as secretary of state.

Tillerson said in his Senate confirmation hearing that he recommends a "full review" of the nuclear deal with Iran.

"Mr. (Donald) Trump as President-elect of the U.S. has so far made some unsettling remarks about the JCPOA," said Rouhani on Tuesday.

However, "negotiations have already been conducted, completed, and approved by the UN Security Council," Rouhani stressed.

Earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for the United States and European Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi also said that Iran "has reiterated several times that the nuclear dossier will not be opened again under any circumstances."

Iran will not allow a renegotiation of the agreement and this stance is shared by the six world powers, including Russia, China, the U.S., Britain, France and Germany, who participated in diplomatic efforts with Iran on its nuclear program, said Ravanchi.

Iran has repeatedly accused the U.S. of violating the JCPOA since its implementation in January 2016.

Iran and the six world powers reached an agreement on Iran's nuclear issue in July 2015 which lifted the sanctions imposed upon Iran yet limited its nuclear program.

The deal limits Iran's nuclear activities as it would take Tehran at least a year to produce enough fissile materials to produce a nuclear weapon.

Also, Iran will allow regular inspections of its facilities, according to the agreed-upon deal.

In return, the U.S. and the European Union suspended nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran, and lifted past UN Security Council sanction resolutions.

Several U.S. legislators expressed concern over the deal, warning that Tehran could evade inspections and use the funds from sanction relief to destabilize the region. Endit