It's time for the remaining signatories to the Iran nuclear deal to finalize their measures to counter the Unites States' sanctions against Tehran before they fully come into force, the Iranian president wrote in an opinion piece ahead of a new round of US restrictive measures due on Nov. 4.
In an article posted on the website of Financial Times on Thursday, President Hassan Rouhani appreciated the "valuable support" of the parties and urged them to implement their strategies in a timely manner.
"It is essential that the European parties, as well as China and Russia, present and implement their final proposed package of measures to compensate for and mitigate the effects of America’s newest unilateral and extraterritorial sanctions before they are imposed," he wrote.
The president stressed that the only way the historical agreement can survive is that Iranian people witness its promised benefits.
The nuclear agreement, formally named the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was reached in 2015 after two years of intensive negotiations between Iran and six major powers. It is, according to Rouhani, "a great victory for diplomacy in our time".
As an annex to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, it imposes obligations on all UN member states.
However, the US, a main signatory, abandoned the accord in May, reimposed sanctions on Tehran and threatened other countries with punitive measures for abiding by it.
The Iranian president described it a "complete disregard for international obligations", which constitutes "a mockery of international decisions and the blackmailing of responsible parties who seek to uphold them".
He emphasized that the US is violating the agreement on "unfounded claims" against Iran that have been rejected by the global community.
"The recent decision of the International Court of Justice and its provisional measure against US unilateral sanctions reaffirms the legitimacy of Iran’s position and the illegality of these oppressive sanctions."
The court ruled against the US in early October ordering it to lift any sanctions that would hinder the trade of humanitarian and civil aviation safety goods.
Call for EU Coop.
Addressing Europe, Rouhani called for its cooperation to stand up to the US unilateralism.
"The US administration's policies … are fundamentally incompatible with multilateralism and other socio-political norms valued by Europe," he wrote.
"Cooperation between Iran and Europe will secure the long-term interests of both parties, and ensure international peace and stability"
Multilateralism, he added, is the only appropriate, inexpensive and effective course of action in today's world whereas "unilateralism is fatal".
The president cited Europe's tradition of multilateralism as a quality that enables it to reinforce peace and stability, and expressed Iran's readiness to "join other peace-loving nations on this path".
In line with its commitment to "reason and dialogue", Iran has already initiated political consultation with Europe on key issues of mutual interest with the aim of finding appropriate solutions.
Rouhani said cooperation between Iran and Europe will secure the long-term interests of both parties, and ensure international peace and stability.
Since the US withdrawal from the nuclear pact, the European Union has been leading the campaign to save the agreement by taking measures to guarantee Iran's interests.
The most significant proposed strategy is the Special Purpose Vehicle, a mechanism that would facilitate trade with Iran in spite of US sanctions.
According to EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, "the SPV aims to keep trade flowing even if possible US sanctions hit Tehran."
The system was expected to become operational by November, before the new set of sanctions targeting Iran's oil industry takes effect.
Among other EU measures is an update to the Blocking Statute that bans any EU company from complying with US sanctions against firms investing in or doing business with Iran.
The European Investment Bank's external lending mandate has also added Iran to the list of countries outside the EU, which are eligible for EIB lending.
