Europe does not have a favorable view of the United States policy on the Iran nuclear deal, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday, noting that Washington's anticipated pullout will be met with an "unpleasant" response from Tehran and the international community.
"In yesterday's meeting of the European Union foreign ministers, it was (again) clear that Europe does not have a very positive view of US policies in this regard," Zarif told reporters in Tehran when asked about the fate of the 2015 nuclear agreement, IRNA reported.
He was referring to EU ministers’ discussions in Luxembourg on Monday in which they avoided any agreement on new sanctions against Iran amid Italy’s opposition and fears that punishing Tehran for its missile program and regional role would not stop US President Donald Trump from abandoning the nuclear deal. Iran says its missiles are for defensive purposes.
Some diplomats say the outcome of the EU ministers meeting might not make the US president’s May 12 deadline to “fix” the nuclear accord, Reuters reported.
The EU is eager to safeguard the pact fiercely opposed by Trump and some of his hawkish aides. He has threatened not to extend the US sanctions relief on Iran related to the agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which calls on the West to lift the extensive sanctions in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear program.
*** Prospect of Isolation
Zarif said there is a "consensus" in Europe and among other parties to the accord that it cannot be renegotiated and Washington is "completely isolated" in its stance.
The agreement was signed between Tehran and six world powers—the US, Britain, Russia, France, China plus Germany.
"Iran will always defend its national interests," Zarif said, adding, "If the United States decides to withdraw from the JCPOA, it will be met with a response from Iran and the international community, which would not be to their liking." He did not elaborate.
***New York Trip
Zarif will start a 6-day visit to New York on Thursday to attend a high-level UN meeting and a session of the Council on Foreign Relations.
He will participate in a meeting on Peace-Building and Sustaining Peace on April 24-25 organized by the United Nations, Mehr News Agency reported.
Iran’s nuclear deal is expected to be high on his agenda.
Zarif will be accompanied by his deputies and will speak at the Council on Foreign Relations, an influential think-tank.
The Council on Foreign Relations, founded in 1921, is a United States nonprofit organization specializing in US foreign policy and international affairs.
Zarif is also expected to hold meetings with his counterparts and confer with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Deputy foreign minister for political affairs, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, will accompany Zarif.
