Australian Ambassador to Tehran Ian Biggs said his country would continue trade relations with Iran even after the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement.
“We were disappointed when there was that withdrawal from the JCPOA. Australia continues to be committed to JCPOA and we work closely with the government of the Islamic Republic to ensure that the non-proliferation assurances of the deal continue to be felt by everyone involved,” he said, referring to the official name of the agreement; the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
In a talk with Mehr News Agency published Monday, the envoy talked about developments in two-way trade ties in light of the US withdrawal in May from the nuclear deal, signed between Iran and six world powers.
The other parties to the deal, namely China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany, say they remain committed to the deal and have asked Tehran to continue its obligations under the landmark agreement.
Australia Committed to Deal
Australia is working to ensure that “our companies and our institutions are able to engage with Iran and the Australian trade commission in Tehran is now busier than it has ever been in dealing with enquiries from Australian and Iranian firms interested in trade and investment in both directions,” Biggs added.
“So we are still definitely committed,” he emphasized.
Terrorism in Region
Asked about the future of the region after the defeat of the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group, or ISIL, the senior diplomat highlighted the role of Iran in this regard.
“Countering terrorism is a challenge for the entire international community. Australia has been part of a coalition in this region attempting to defeat ISIL. And we know that Iran has also been heavily involved in the campaign,” he said.
50 Years of Relations
The Australian envoy added that the current year marks 50 years of Australian diplomatic representation in Tehran.
“It’s an exciting time for the people-to-people links between our two countries and I continue to be very hopeful about the future of our relationship,” he was quoted as saying.
