Salehi, Johnson discuss nuclear deal, banking ties
Boris Johnson, the UK foreign secretary, underlined Iran’s importance in the region and also reiterated his country’s support for maintaining the nuclear agreement Tehran struck with P5+1 group countries in 2015.
In a Sunday meeting with Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran, Johnson underscored the significant role Iran plays in settlement of regional crises and problems, Tasnim News Agency reported.
On the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), he said London attaches importance to maintaining the deal.
The top British diplomat said that banking problems impeding trade ties between Iran and Britain are being removed gradually.
Salehi elaborated on Iran’s principled policy of remaining committed to its undertakings, including those in the JCPOA, and stressed the need for Iran to see the deal’s tangible benefits.
The two sides also called for expansion of Tehran-london ties in various fields, including science, and discussed the latest regional developments.
Heading a diplomatic delegation, Johnson arrived in Tehran on Saturday morning and held meetings with a number of senior Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Iran and Britain moved to improve relations after finalization of the JCPOA, which came into force in January 2016.
Speaker statements
Larijani told Johnson that US and UK military campaigns since 2000 had plunged the world into chaos, and were the major reason for the spread of terrorism.
Larijani said, ”Instead of voicing anti-iran sentiments, it would be more rewarding to pay attention to the reality of what is going on in regional countries.”
He also questioned British support for Bahrain’s monarchy, saying: “All Bahraini people want is democracy. They want equal voting rights. Why do you aid their oppression?
Larijani also suggested that the all aspects of the Iran nuclear deal had not been fully implemented by the UK.
“After the JCPOA agreement was reached, unlike certain other European countries that did their best to engage in economic cooperation with Iran, the UK did not take appropriate measures to promote economic cooperation with Iran. You did not even solve the banking obstacles of Iranian Embassy in London.”