Iran positive on nuclear deal hopes after EU talks

When he quit the deal last week, US President Donald Trump gave businesses a maximum of six months to wind up operations in Iran or face swinging penalties under American sanctions.

US ‘illegal’ actions

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani asked the European Union to stand against the United States’ “illegal and illogical” actions, saying that Tehran could stay in the accord only if it fully bene¿ts from it.

“Iran can stay in the JCPOA only if it fully bene¿ts from the deal,” Rouhani said.

He said the US exit from the nuclear deal was a “wrong” decision, and a “political and moral failure” for the United States that would lead to Washington “isolation” in the world.

Zarif’s meetings in Brussels cap a whirlwind global tour, including trips to both Russia and China, the two other signatory nations, in a bid to bolster support.

Washington’s decision to go against its European allies’ advice and abandon the deal has pushed them closer to Beijing and Moscow on the issue as diplomats try to keep the pact alive.

French President Emmanuel Macron held phone talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, according to a Kremlin statement, which said they had “con¿rmed Russia and France’s commitment to make the deal work.”

Zarif was in Moscow to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday, a day after visiting leaders in Beijing.

“The ¿nal aim of these negotiations is to seek assurances that the interests of the Iranian nation will be defended,” Zarif said at the start of a meeting.

On Monday Zarif also sent a letter to the United Nations in which he accused the US of showing a “complete disregard for international law” in pulling out of the deal.

AFP, AP and Reuters contributed to this story