EU reiterates commitment to Iran nuclear deal
Mogherini underlined need for continued full and effective implementation of the Iran nuclear deal all Parties ‘including the economic Benefits arising from it’
GENEVA: European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini met Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Geneva on Wednesday and reiterated the bloc’s determination to preserve the multilateral nuclear deal, an EU statement said.
Mogherini underlined need for continued full and effective implementation of the Iran nuclear deal by all parties, “INCLUDING THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS ARISING from it”, it said.
Iran should increase its military capability and readiness to ward off enemies, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday in a meeting with Iranian navy commanders, ACCORDING TO KHAMENEI’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
“Increase your capability and readiness as much as you can so Iran’s enemies will not even dare threaten these great people,” Khamenei said.
He added, “The Islamic Republic does not intend to start war with anyone.” Iran’s nuclear chief said he was warning the European Union’s top diplomat that Iranian patience was running out on the bloc’s pledges to keep up oil trade despite US sanctions.
Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, said the Islamic Republic could resume enriching uranium to 20 per cent purity - seen as well above the level suitable for fuelling civilian power plants - if it fails to see THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF THE 2015 DEAL that curbed its nuclear programme.
“If we cannot sell our oil and we DON’T ENJOY FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS, then I don’t think keeping the deal WILL BENEFIT US ANYMORE,” SALEHI TOLD Reuters ahead of a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Brussels.
“I will pass certainly a word of caution to her (Mogherini): I think the period of patience for our people is getting more limited and limited. We are running out of the assumed timeline, which was in terms of months.” Following the meeting, Mogherini said she and Salehi remained committed to safeguarding the nuclear accord.
“They equally expressed their determination to preserve the nuclear agreement as a matter of respecting international agreements and a key pillar for European and regional security,” MOGHERINI’S OFFICE SAID IN A STATEMENT.
It said Mogherini also repeated the EU stance “on issues of concern such as Iran’s role in the region” - alluding to Iranian involvement in Middle East CONLICTS FROM YEMEN TO SYRIA.