Iranian MP Urges Europe’s Commitment to JCPOA
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian lawmaker urged that the European parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) should keep their side of the bargain in the wake of the US withdrawal from the deal and fulfill the contracts they have signed since coming into force of the nuclear agreement.
In an interview with Tasnim, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said Europe is faced with “a historical test” after the US walked away from the JCPOA.
He also highlighted the need for necessary guarantees from the remaining parties to the deal in the process of negotiations on saving the accord, saying “practical measures” is what matters the most for Iran at the moment.
Calling on the European parties to stand against the US government’s excessive demands, Boroujerdi said the Iranian negotiators should be given guarantees that the European companies will continue to work with Iran.
“They (Europeans) must honor their commitments and carry out the contracts they have signed post- JCPOA,” the lawmaker added.
In a speech from the White House on May 8, US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the JCPOA, which was achieved in Vienna in 2015 after years of negotiations among Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).
Following the US exit, Iran and the remaining parties have launched talks to save the accord.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has underlined that any decision to keep the JCPOA running without the US should be conditional on “practical guarantees” from the three European parties to the deal.
In comments on May 23, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that Europeans must protect Iranian oil sales from the US pressure and continue buying Iranian crude, and must promise they would not seek new negotiations on Iran's missile program and regional activities.
“European banks should safeguard trade with the Islamic Republic. We do not want to start a fight with these three countries (France, Germany and Britain), but based on their past records, we don't trust them either,” the Leader said.
“Europe should fully guarantee Iran’s oil sales. In case Americans can damage our oil sales..., Europeans should make up for that and buy Iranian oil,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.