Iran, Germany: No links between nuclear deal, missile program
Iranian and German foreign ministers on Friday emphasized that the Iran missile program has nothing to do with the Iran nuclear deal. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a telephone conversation with his German counterpart Heiko Maas called on the European Union to put pressure on the US to comply with the commitments made under the agreement, IRNA reported.
Iran and P5+1 group of countries – the US, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany signed the nuclear agreement on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.
Under the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to walk away from the nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions by May 12 unless tough new restrictions are imposed on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
Trump wants Iran’s missile capabilities to come under the provisions of the nuclear agreement, which Tehran vehemently rejects.
The US president has called on America’s European allies to agree to tougher measures and new conditions for Washington to remain in the deal.
In March, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned against serious repercussions of a US decision to pull out of the multilateral agreement, saying such a move would plunge the Middle East into war.
Despite the US pressures, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has filed nine consecutive reports over the past two years verifying Iran’s compliance.
The Iranian and German foreign ministers also discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues, Press TV reported.
Zarif slammed US wrong policies in the Middle East, including its massive arms sales to the regional states and Washington’s support for terrorist groups, warning that such measures will lead to instability and insecurity in the region.
Zarif also congratulated Maas on his appointment as German foreign minister.