European official: Europe seeking to preserve JCPOA
Europe is currently seeking to work out methods to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and P5+1 in July 2015, and will continue its efforts to this end, said a member of the Executive Board of the European Leadership Network (ELN).
“No doubt the Islamic Republic of Iran has common interests with Europe particularly in the field of trade, although the country has not managed yet to duly benefit from the advantages of this deal,” added Tarja Cronberg, who is also a distinguished associate fellow with the European Security Program at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
She made the remarks in a meeting with the Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Alaeddin Boroujerdi in The Iranian capital of Tehran on Tuesday.
Preserving the JCPOA will be in everyone’s interest, Cronberg said, expressing hope that trade and economic relations between Iran and the US would expand.
Speaking at the same meeting, Boroujerdi said in case the US Congress decides that the country should withdraw from the JCPOA, Iran will lose its motivation to continue with the deal.
He said in case this takes place, the world will realize that Iran’s strength and capability to thread this path is even greater than the ability it possessed prior the signing of the JCPOA.
Boroujerdi recalled that in addition to being committed to the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), the religious decree issued by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei makes Iran duty-bound to refrain from using or developing nuclear weapons.
Iran’s principle of disagreeing with and disapproving of using and developing nuclear bombs is a persistent one which is also the Islamic Republic’s bold redline, he said.
Boroujerdi noted that Iran is conducting its nuclear activities within the JCPOA’S framework, adding everything is prepared in Iran for increasing the momentum of its peaceful nuclear program.
Turning to recent developments in the region, he said Iran has always strongly defended territorial integrity of the regional countries.
“However, the decisions made by US President Donald Trump has triggered a part of today’s crises.”
Iran has never supported war or bloodshed and is a serious promoter and supporter of peace in the region and world, he stressed.