“West cannot expect to enjoy security while other regions in the world are reeling from insecurity,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an address to the Royal Institute for International Relations, known as the Egmont Institute, in the Belgium capital of Brussels on Monday.
Zarif referred to JCPOA as one of the rare cases where diplomacy prevailed. “Several resolutions have been taken under Chapter 7 of UN Charter and a new resolution was adopted on the basis of cooperation which was a new case in the Security Council,” said he.
Pointing to the negative impact of sactions regime on Iran’s economy on one hand, and its positive impact on the increase of centrifuges, on the other hand, Zarif said as a result of the nuclear deal, the West has the most concrete guarantees about the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program resulting in the removal sanctions against Iran.
Pointing to the security and terror crises in Europe, Zarif said, “If we could redefine our issues in the region through the inclusion of others and not their exclusion, we can find a solution.”
“These crises are common threats and every crisis is a crisis for all,” he underlined.
Pointing to the Saudi massacre of Yemenis, the Iranian foreign minister also slammed the Arab country’s approach in putting its interests not on having friendly neighbors but on their elimination.
Iran’s Zarif, who is in Brussels since Feb. 15, also met with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel on Monday.
Dr. Zarif said the two countries enjoy a high capacity to establish ties in the field of energy, industry and technology.
Pointing to the visit of Belgium foreign minister to Iran, Zarif said economic relations between the two countries, which had fallen due to sanctions, will rise during the new course in the near future.
Charles Michel, for his part, said we are waiting for the visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Belgium, underlining that the country highly regards relations with Iran.
Pointing to the need to encourage the private sector to invest in Iran, he supported the establishment of direct flights between Tehran and Brussels.
Zarif arrived in Brussels early on Monday at the head of a political delegation to discuss key regional issues with European Union officials.
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