Iran, U.S. clash at U.N. on nuclear deal, human rights issues

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi addresses the 77th Session of the United Nations Basic Meeting at U.N. Headquarters in New York Metropolis, U.S., September 21, 2022. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21 (Reuters) – The USA and Iran clashed on safety and human rights on Wednesday, with Iran’s president demanding U.S. ensures to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and the U.S. president vowing Tehran would by no means get an atomic bomb.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi struck a defiant tone on the United Nations Basic Meeting by decrying “double requirements” on human rights after the dying of an Iranian lady in police custody that has sparked protests round Iran.

Raisi additionally mentioned Tehran needed former U.S. President Donald Trump to face trial for the 2020 killing of Iran’s high Quds Pressure commander Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. drone assault in Iraq, holding up an image of the final.

“There’s a nice and severe will to resolve all points to revive the (2015 nuclear) deal,” Raisi instructed the U.N. Basic Meeting. “We solely want one factor: observance of commitments.”

Talking later, U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated his willingness to revive the nuclear pact beneath which Iran had agreed to restrain its atomic program in return for reduction from financial sanctions.

In 2018, Trump withdrew the USA from the nuclear deal and unilaterally reimposed sanctions which have hobbled Iran’s financial system.

A 12 months later, Tehran reacted by progressively violating the deal’s nuclear limits and reviving U.S., Israeli and Gulf Arab fears that Iran could also be in search of to acquire an atomic weapon, an ambition Iran denies.

“We have now earlier than us the expertise of America’s withdrawal from the (deal),” Raisi mentioned. “With that have and this attitude, can we ignore the vital challenge of ensures for a sturdy settlement?”

Raisi didn’t point out Iran’s demand that investigations by the Worldwide Atomic Power Company (IAEA) into traces of uranium discovered at three undeclared Iranian websites be closed, a serious stumbling block to reviving the deal.

U.S. and European officers have mentioned the probes can solely be closed if Iran offers passable solutions to the U.N. nuclear watchdog whose chief, Rafael Grossi, mentioned these points can’t be wished away. learn extra

‘DOUBLE STANDARDS’

Raisi additionally sought to deflect criticism of final week’s dying of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by morality police in Tehran for “unsuitable apparel”. Amini’s dying has unleashed anger within the streets since Friday over points together with freedoms within the Islamic Republic and an financial system reeling from sanctions. learn extra

At the least seven folks have been killed in protests with some demanding “regime change”.

“The Islamic Republic considers the double requirements of some governments within the discipline of human rights as crucial issue within the institutionalization of human rights violations,” Raisi mentioned in a textual content of his speech launched by his workplace.

He mentioned this led to “various and quite a few positions in direction of an incident beneath investigation in … Iran,” an obvious reference to Amini’s case, and “the deathly silence” about allegations of human rights violations within the West.

“Human rights belongs to all, however sadly it’s trampled upon by many governments,” he added, referring to the invention of unmarked graves of indigenous folks in Canada, the struggling of the Palestinians and pictures of migrant youngsters held in cages in the USA.

Biden expressed a willingness to return to the nuclear deal, formally generally known as the Joint Complete Plan of Motion, and made clear U.S. sympathies lay with the protesters in Iran.

“Whereas the USA is ready for a mutual return to the Joint Complete Plan of Motion if Iran steps as much as its obligations, the USA is evident: We won’t permit Iran to accumulate a nuclear weapon,” he mentioned, repeating a long-held U.S. place.

“We stand with the courageous residents and the courageous ladies of Iran who proper now are demonstrating to safe their primary rights,” Biden added.

Reporting by Parisa Hafezi and Steve Holland; writing by Parisa Hafezi and Arshad Mohammed; modifying by Andrew Cawthorne, Jonathan Oatis and Grant McCool

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