Iran’s Zarif Hails German Recognition of Need for Practical Measures to Save JCPOA
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Minister described talks with his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, in Tehran on Monday as “frank” and hailed “Germany’s recognition” that in order to save the 2015 nuclear deal, there need to be practical measures to make sure that Iran benefits from the accord.
“Frank talks with @HeikoMaas. Welcome German recognition that practical measures to ensure Iran’s economic dividends are essential to preserve #JCPOA,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said on his Twitter account later on Monday.
“We concurred that dialog among regional countries is crucial. But @realDonaldTrump's "economic war" is THE cause of all tensions,” he added.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that addressing ways to save the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), following the unilateral withdrawal of the US from it in May last year, was the main goal of Maas’ visit to Iran.
In a meeting with Maas on Monday evening, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on Europe to resist the United States’ economic terrorism against the Iranian nation and live up to its obligations as per the nuclear deal.
“We expect Europe to stand up to and resist America’s economic terrorism against the Iranian nation and fulfill its obligations in accordance with the JCPOA” Rouhani told Germany’s top diplomat, adding that following the US withdrawal from the deal, Iran could have done the same on the strength of Article 36 of the JCPOA, but rather decided to remain patient and give other signatories a chance.
Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.
US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the JCPOA in May 2018 and re-imposed harsh sanctions against the Islamic Republic in defiance of global criticism.
On the first anniversary of the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran announced that it would suspend the implementation of some of its commitments under the deal, adding that it would stop exporting excess uranium and heavy water, setting a 60-day deadline for the five remaining parties to the deal to take practical measures towards ensuring its interests in the face of the American sanctions.
