Jan 28, 2019, 11:53 AM

Iran waiting for EU's official announcement on SPV launch

Iran waiting for EU's official announcement on SPV launch

TEHRAN, Jan. 28 (MNA) – Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said Iran is waiting for the European Union's official launch of a special payment channel aimed at circumventing the United States’ sanctions to facilitate trade with Iran.

Asked about the reports by some foreign media that say SPV will be presented today, Ghasemi said during his weekly press conference on Monday that "we had heard a lot of promises about launching SPV in the previous months, and in recent days; we are now waiting for SPV to be officially announced by Europe; "Iran is waiting to see how the EU will make up for its delays to establish the trade mechanism."

“Iran has never waited for Europe’s payment mechanism but we are eager to see how Europe makes up for the delay,” he told reporters during a press briefing in Tehran.

Ghasemi pointed to Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's three nation tour to Austria, Slovakia and Bulgaria, saying this has nothing to do with SPV launch; it takes place within the framework of Iran's relations with the three European countries, as well as holding negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Regarding French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s recent intimidating remarks on Iranian missile program, he said "Iran's missile program is defensive and a domestic issue that is deterrent in nature and is designed to defend the country."

“Our policy on missiles is clear and the issue as part of our country’s defense sector cannot be negotiated,” he said.

On the Poland's anti-Iran conference, Ghasemi said "this is an American game played with clear goals." Given the nature of some countries which recently joined the European Union, and which have notorious backgrounds in raising conflicts in the region, the US is after sewing discord among Iran and some European countries.

"Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Maciej Lang came to Tehran and gave us explanations and received the necessary answers," Ghasemi said, adding "Iran has not been invited to the event, and we have a skeptical and pessimistic look on this conference."

He underlined the Germany’s banning Iranian Mahan Airline, saying "German government's decision runs counter to the spirit of deep-rooted relations between the two countries."

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News ID 141960

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