Mogherini: Keeping Iran deal vital for EU
The European Union foreign policy chief said preserving Iran nuclear deal is vital for the European bloc. Federica Mogherini told reporters on Monday ahead of the bloc’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.
“On the Iran deal, we’re doing all we can to work with our American friends to make sure that all parties stay fully committed to the full implementation of the agreement,” Mogherini was quoted by European External Action Service (EEAS) as saying.
“As it is the case so far as we know the last joint commission that we chaired was positive, everybody recognized that Iran is fully compliant with its nuclear commitments as has been confirmed by the IAEA for 11 times,” she said.
“Let me add that preserving the agency credibility is crucial especially in a time when we enter maybe hopefully, some interesting discussions with DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea]. So work is ongoing and we believe it would be essential to stay united in this,” she noted.
The top EU diplomat continued, “Let me also add the Europeans have always made it clear for us that keeping the agreement in place is vital.
“It is a strategic interest for the EU and we will stick to it.”
On the sanctions, the top official said, “I do not foresee any decision to be taken today on this. As you know, we have already sanctions in place on Iran – nonnuclear related. I do not expect [foreign] ministers to take decision on this today.”
Mogherini also attended a meeting with French, British and German foreign ministers to discuss implementation of the Iran deal.
Before the meeting, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters that the deal should be kept and the three European foreign ministers would continue negotiations with Americans.
US President Donald Trump is a stern critic of the nuclear deal reached between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, China, Russia – plus Germany. Under the agreement, nuclear-related sanctions put in place against Iran were lifted in exchange for curbs on Tehran’s nuclear program.
The US president on January 12 reluctantly agreed to waive sanctions against Iran that were lifted as part of the landmark deal, but threatened to withdraw from the accord if some “disastrous flaws” were not fixed.
He said he wanted the United States’ European allies to use the 120-day period before sanctions relief again comes up for renewal to agree to tougher measures and new conditions; otherwise Washington would pull out of the deal.