Shamkhani made the remarks on Saturday night during a meeting with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell in Tehran.
The top Iranian security official said that his country has fulfilled its obligations under the nuclear deal and never left the negotiating table despite the unlawful withdrawal of the United States from the accord.
He also criticized Europe for its inaction after the US pullout and said that the European stance coupled with Washington’s withdrawal marked a bitter experience for Iran.
Shamkhani added that the Islamic Republic’s remedial measures in its nuclear sector were a lawful and rational response to US unilateralism and Europe’s inaction.
Those measures will continue unless the West changes its behavior, he stressed.
The Iranian official referred to the Vienna talks that began in April 2021 to revive the nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which was thrown into disarray following the US withdrawal in May 2018 and the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran.
Shamkhani said that Iran entered the Vienna talks with the aim of the removal of the sanctions and full enjoyment of the economic benefits of the JCPOA.
He stressed that Iran considers as unfavorable any agreement that fails to fulfill those goals through reliable guarantees by the US and Europe.
The top Iranian security official also criticized the Biden administration for continuing the maximum pressure campaign launched by his predecessor Donald Trump and keeping sanctions and threats against Iran, while indirectly taking part in the Vienna negotiations.
Shamkhani said that such behaviors by the US was the main reason that the Vienna talks were prolonged and achieved no result so far.
The top EU diplomat, for his part, said that the JCPOA revival deal would be a key security achievement considering the current circumstances in the world in the wake of the Ukraine war.
Borrell also lashed out at former US president Donald Trump for pulling out of the JCPOA, and said that all sides should look to the future in order for a revival agreement to be reached.
He also referred to his talks with American officials prior to his visit to Iran and said that the Biden administration wants to achieve a revival agreement on the JCPOA.
After talks with Shamkhani, the top EU diplomat posted a tweet, calling his meeting important.
“Important meeting with the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of #Iran, Ali Shamkhani, on how to bring the #JCPOA back on track.”
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