Zarif discusses SPV with EU chief, 3 EU FMs to facilitate Iran oil export

In a phone call on Friday, Iran's Zarif discussed US move to re-enforce sanctions against Iran and efforts of Europe to deal with it, with EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini Federica Mogherini, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Denmark's Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen, and Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström.

Mogherini and three European foreign ministers emphasized their commitments to the JCPOA and efforts to maintain effective financial channels with Iran, as well as the continuation of Iranian oil and gas exports.

They also highly regarded the commitment of finance ministers in addition to the foreign ministers of the three European countries and other members for the implementation of Special Purpose Vehicle, announcing that the mechanism will be officially in place in the coming days.

Zarif and his Danish counterpart also discussed Denmark's Police's recent allegations against Iranian government to carry out a plot to assassinate an Iranian Arab opposition figure on its soil.

Rejecting the unfounded claims, Zarif pointed to the efforts made by the Zionist regime to undermine the relations between Iran and the European countries and to eliminate European initiatives to maintain JCPOA and announced Iran's willingness to cooperate with the Danish security authorities in order to clarify the various dimensions of the conspiracy and discover the truth.

Zarif also emphasized the responsibility of the Danish government to prosecute and arrest the perpetrators of a terrorist grouplet who have admitted responsibility in Ahvaz terrorist attack, and considered as unacceptable the Danish government's move to protect them despite their explicit acknowledgment of the responsibility for the terrorist operations in Ahvaz.

Anders Samuelsen also reiterated Denmark's support for the Europe's Special Purpose Vehicle to maintain trade cooperation with Iran.

Besides, the European Union, France, Germany and Britain said in a joint statement on Friday that they regret Washington’s decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran.

“Our aim is to protect European economic actors who have legitimate commercial exchanges with Iran, in line with European legislation and the United Nations’ Security Council resolution 2231,” European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and the foreign ministers and finance ministers of the three countries said.

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