TEHRAN, Jul. 29 (Payantitr News Agency) – Iranian FM spokesman Abbas Mousavi deemed the Sun. JCPOA meeting in Vienna ‘constructive’, saying diplomatic efforts will continue on all sides to save the nuclear deal.
“Diplomatic efforts will continue to save the JCPOA, which is important both to us and the remaining signatories to the agreement,” the foreign ministry spokesman said during his weekly press conference on Monday.
The presser took place a day after Iran and the remaining signatories to the nuclear agreement gathered in Vienna to discuss ways to preserve the JCPOA following the US’ unilateral withdrawal and Iran’s dissatisfaction with lack of any practical measures by the other sides to ensure the country’s economic interests in the face of US sanctions.
Mousavi went on add that at the Sunday meeting, “the European sides objected to Iran’s new approach to reduce commitments, and the Iranian side voiced its strong objection to Europe’s lack of practical measures, as well their detainment of some Iranians in Europe and handing them over to the US.”
“The Vienna meeting was constructive and moving forward, and discussions were very frank and decisive,” he said.
“If these efforts fail to achieve results, Iran will take the next step” to reduce commitments to the JCPOA, warned Mousavi.
A year after the US’ withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the re-imposition of sanctions, as well as lack of any practical measures from the other signatories to the agreement for securing Iran’s economic interests, Tehran announced in May 2019 that it would reduce its commitments to the deal in various steps. The country highlights that all these reductions are according to paragraphs 26 and 36 of the deal and will be reversible when the E3 begin to fully comply with their own commitments under the JCPOA.
Mousavi went on to say that a ministerial meeting on the JCPOA with the 4+1 countries will take place after preparations are done and the sides reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said after the JCPOA meeting on Sunday that Moscow would not like to delay a ministerial meeting on JCPOA, but “it is too early to speak about a date.”
The situation around the Iran-operated Grace 1 tanker that had been detained by the UK in the Strait of Gibraltar was also discussed at Sunday’s meeting in Vienna, said Mousavi, adding “it is unacceptable to us that a European country would seize our oil on the US’ order. We consider this move as a violation of the JCPOA.”
To be updated…
