President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that Europe's efforts to salvage the nuclear deal after the US withdrawal should be combined with "tangible" measures, calling it impossible for Iran to stay in the agreement if there is no economic benefit.
"Remarks and statements should be accompanied by actions and practical, tangible solutions," Rouhani said in a phone call with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, IRNA reported.
If Iran cannot benefit from the nuclear deal, it is practically impossible to continue to implement it, he added.
"We must not let this great achievement of diplomacy be destroyed by others' unilateral actions and breach of promise," Rouhani told the French president. The pact between Iran and world powers lifted international sanctions on Tehran. In return, Iran scaled back its nuclear activities. Since President Donald Trump withdrew the United States in May, calling the accord flawed, European signatories—France, Britain and Germany—have been scrambling to ensure Iran retains enough economic benefits to persuade it not to pull out.
Syrian War
Rouhani also expressed the hope that terrorism will be rooted out in war-ravaged Syria so that the need for the presence of foreign forces would be irrelevant. The president said consultations between Tehran and Paris should continue to help restore peace and stability in the Arab state.
Political Will
Macron's office said he told Rouhani in the telephone call that France remained committed to the nuclear deal but Tehran needed to fully comply with its commitments, Reuters reported. "The president of the republic recalled the will of France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China to continue to implement the Vienna agreement in all its dimensions," Macron's office said.
"The president informed President Rouhani of the progress in the work being done on our side. He hoped that Iran, for its part, will fulfill its obligations without any ambiguity." Macron's office confirmed a previously agreed ministerial meeting between all the remaining signatories of the deal would be held in the coming weeks in Vienna. French diplomatic sources said the meeting was likely to take place on June 25.
No Economic Action Plan
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that Iran has not received any action plan from Europe that would ensure it gets enough economic benefits after the US exit from the landmark nuclear deal. "We still have not received the required operational package, but EU countries, Russia and China are working on it," he said upon arrival in Pretoria, South Africa, IRNA reported. Speaking to reporters, Zarif said the non-US parties to the deal have reiterated their commitment to taking the measures necessary to keep the accord alive.
"Everybody is exploring ways to guarantee Iran's interests under the JCPOA," the senior diplomat said, referring to the nuclear agreement by its official name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Limited Time
However, he warned that time is running out on saving the international deal. "Time is limited, and during this limited period, we are holding extensive consultations with the remaining participants and other partners, which are not part of the JCPOA." He said the trip to South Africa was in line with such efforts. Zarif stated that a ministerial meeting between the remaining parties to the deal will be held in the near future. "Expert-level talks may be held in preparation for the ministerial negotiations," he added.
Zarif, who is in Pretoria at the head of a high-ranking political-economic delegation held talks with his South African counterpart Lindiwe Sisulu on issues of mutual interest. The two were to meet again on Wednesday. Zarif was also scheduled to meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
