Tabnak – While politically supporting Iran in face of the increasing US sanctions, the European Union has yet to fulfil its commitments to establish a concrete measure for guaranteeing Iran’s interests in the 2015 nuclear deal. As a result, Iranian officials are repeatedly warning the European sides of the possible collapse of the deal.
In this vein, the head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations decried the European governments’ inability to oblige their companies to cooperate with Tehran, saying such a lack of authority is unacceptable.
Speaking at a Saturday meeting with a delegation from the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) -an Italian non-profit organization- Kamal Kharrazi lambasted the European Union’s delay in putting into practice a special purpose vehicle (SPV) which has been developed to save the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and maintain international trade with Iran.
“The fact that the European governments are unable to support European companies direct them to cooperate with Iran is not defensible and acceptable,” Kharrazi said.
He contended that such a failure demonstrates that the European governments are not reliable and raises questions about the EU’s decision to enter talks with Iran while it is unable to control even its own companies.
Kharrazi further warned the EU that giving in to the US demands would only lead to more such pressures, adding, “The fall of the JCPOA will also have an impact on Europe’s security.”
“The US has held Europe hostage, therefore, Europe will face more problems in future in the face of the US,” added the Iranian figure, a former foreign minister. Kharrazi then called on the EU to learn from China and Russia how to stand against the US, stressing, “European interests require that it takes practical measures on the JCPOA.”
EU countries led by France, Germany and Britain, have said they want to enable non-US trade with Iran to continue in defiance of Washington. The EU has devised the SPV, a financial mechanism, to continue trade with Iran and neutralize the US sanctions against Tehran. However, the European countries have been criticized for their sluggishness in implementing the SPV.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said January 8 that Iran will keep working with Europe to put into effect a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for international trade with Tehran under the 2015 nuclear deal, but would not stand by waiting for the EU.
Zarif said the European parties have been making efforts to carry out the SPV, but they have not lived up to Iran’s expectations. He added that Iran will enhance cooperation with its trade partners through various channels.
Two days earlier, on January 6, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said it is the Europeans that are at fault for the delay in implementation of the SPV. He also warned the EU against the consequences of their failure to carry out their commitment, noting that Iran has so far honored all of its undertakings under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“Iran’s patience is not unlimited, so the European Union is nearing the time to make a strategic decision to choose its path,” he added.
On May 8, US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the JCPOA, which was achieved in Vienna in 2015 after years of negotiations among Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).
