UN chief says don’t harm Iran nuclear deal over unrelated issues

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that any issues not directly related to the Iran nuclear deal “should be addressed without prejudice to preserving the agreement”, his spokesman said amid US concerns with Tehran.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that European allies and Congress have to work with him to fix “the disastrous flaws” in the nuclear pact or face a US exit.
Trump wants it strengthened with a separate agreement within 120 days.
Trump also views Iran as a rising threat in the Middle East and the United States has accused Tehran of violating UN resolutions by supplying weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen. Iran has denied supplying the Houthis.
Most UN and Western sanctions on Iran were lifted under the nuclear deal. However, Iran is still subject to a UN arms embargo and other restrictions, which are not technically part of the nuclear deal.
“The (nuclear deal) constitutes a major achievement of nuclear non-proliferation and diplomacy and has contributed to regional and international peace and security,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on the second anniversary of the implementation of the deal between Iran and key world powers.
Guterres called for concerns relating to the implementation of the nuclear deal “to be addressed through the mechanisms established by the agreement”, Dujarric said.
The parties to the nuclear deal created a joint commission to handle any complaints of breaches. If the complaining state is not satisfied with how the commission addresses its concerns, it can then take its grievance to the UN Security Council (UNSC).
If the UNSC receives a complaint of a breach it would then need to vote within 30 days on a resolution to extend sanctions relief. If it fails to vote, the sanctions would be automatically re-imposed.
Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and that it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it, but will “shred” the deal if Washington pulls out.