EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Federica Mogherini, who is in Tehran with a delegation to attend President Rouhani’s inaugural ceremony on Saturday evening, held talks with the president a few hours before the swearing-in, mostly on issues related to the nuclear deal dubbed JCPOA.
During the meeting, Mogherini noted that the attendance of an EU delegation in President Rouhani’s inaugural ceremony was an “important political decision” aimed at sending a signal to the US of the EU’s commitment to relations with Tehran and to the nuclear deal in particular.
Highlighting the significance of the nuclear deal for Europe, Mogherini urged all parties to the deal to remain committed to a successful implementation of their obligations, adding “with the signing of the JCPOA, over 80 per cent of trade transactions between Iran and EU have been carried out successfully.”
Iranian President, for his part, deemed the nuclear agreement a key move contributing to stability in the region and development of Iran’s relations with other countries throughout the world, adding “the European Union played a significant role in the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and today, all parties have a heavy responsibility to make every effort to preserve the agreement."
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will always be committed to implementing the JCPOA and will live up to all its commitments unless the other side violates it first,” he stressed.
Rouhani went on to criticize the US for not having lived up to their commitments under the JCOPA, adding “an important part of JCPOA’s implementation is related to facilitation of economic, banking and trade relations, which needs to be quickly and fully realized.”
The Iranian president further underscored the importance of strengthening the JCPOA as a stepping stone toward more bilateral and regional cooperation between Iran and the EU.
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