Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has called on the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) to avoid imposing harsh sanctions on Tehran. Raisi attended the sixth GECF summit in Doha at the invitation of Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Iran is a member of the GECF, having founded it along with Qatar in 2001.
Raisi spoke of sanctions in general, but specifically referred to those imposed on the country by the United States. Despite the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran is still subject to sanctions and is struggling to export its oil and gas. President Raisi called on other countries not to recognize US sanctions imposed on Iran.
In their Doha Declaration, GECF members expressed their “deep concern and disagreement” regarding unilateral economic restrictions levied on member countries. No mention was made of US sanctions against Iran in the document.
Obama signed the nuclear agreement with the P5+1 in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). As part of the deal, the US would lift sanctions against Iran if it reduced its nuclear activity. Trump unilaterally withdrew his country from the deal as part of his maximum pressure campaign against Iran in 2018. Iran was then hit with crippling sanctions again.
GECF members expressed their displeasure with unilateral economic restrictions on Iran. The Russian envoy at the nuclear talks said on Sunday that the JCPOA would be restored in its original form. A number of analysts claim that a revival of the JCPOA will make the deal weaker. Qatar has called for the restoration of the JCPOA and offered to mediate between the United States and Iran. Sheikh Tamim also called for a deal that would satisfy all sides while preserving regional stability and security.