Norway Seeking Close Ties with Iran despite US Sanctions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg said her country is figuring out how to expand relations with Iran in spite of the US government’s sanctions.
In a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Solberg said Norway is looking for ways to enhance ties with Tehran despite the US sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Deploring the US government’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the Norwegian leader said political issues have impaired such a good agreement whose continuation is important for the improvement of relations.
Solberg also voiced Oslo’s willingness to boost ties with Tehran in various fields.
For his part, Rouhani said the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 has endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and has called on all states to support the nuclear deal, urging the international community not to remain silent on the US violation of that resolution.
Pointing to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s confirmation that Iran has fully honored the JCPOA, Rouhani said Iran lives up to its commitments but would stay only in an agreement that fulfills its interests.
The president also highlighted the role of Europe in saving the JCPOA, which he said ensures world peace and security.
The Iranian president arrived in New York on Sunday to attend the 73rd UN General Assembly and hold sideline meetings.
In his UN address on Tuesday, Rouhani deplored the US breach of international regulations and hostile policies towards Iran.
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).
The US has also re-imposed sanctions on Iran and has devised a new wave of economic sanctions, which are aimed at pushing Iran’s oil exports down to zero.
