Europe needs an extended timeframe to implement its strategies for preserving Iran’s benefits from the 2015 nuclear deal, but this period cannot be too lengthy and will definitely not be endless, a top diplomat said.
In an interview with IRNA, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi noted that enormous pressure from the US and serious technical and legal complications are impeding the European Union’s efforts to shield Iran from sanctions.
“Europeans have not been able to take practical measures, but we are not supposed to wait forever either … We will take the right decisions in due course,” he said.
According to Araqchi, Iran is informed of EU’s endeavors to remove the obstacles and has, therefore, chosen to allow it more time to operationalize its envisioned mechanisms.
The US sanctions on Tehran lifted as per the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers were reimposed after US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the deal in May.
European signatories have taken the initiative to protect Iran’s interests to convince it to remain committed to the terms of the accord.
Consequently, the EU has been striving to devise a financial mechanism known as the Special Purpose Vehicle to maintain trade with Iran on a non-dollar basis.
Despite pledges to set it up before the enactment of the second round of US sanctions in early November, Europe has not been able to activate the SPV. A major hurdle is where to establish the system’s headquarters, as no EU country has agreed to host the facility for fear of possible US penalties.
Only recently, France and Germany have suggested they could play host to the institution.
Araqchi told the news agency that he could not confirm any of the rumors about the hosting of the SPV due to the sensitivity of the matter.
“The Americans have practically proven that they aim to block all the existing ways out and have already begun their pressure campaign against European countries trying to work with the mechanism,” he said.
Non-Economic Gains
The diplomat also pointed out that the advantages of the nuclear pact for Iran are not solely economic, although such gains are crucial and have been significantly reduced due to the sanctions.
“We have political and other benefits from JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or the nuclear deal] and as long as these interests are met, we will remain in the pact. We have not yet reached the point of completely losing hope in JCPOA,” he said.
Araqchi noted that the nuclear agreement has not only isolated the US, but has also generated the international community's support for Iran.
Many of the sanctions targeting Iran’s peaceful nuclear programs are now undone and the projects are being carried out in a “transparent and logical environment”, he added.
“The past accusations … have ended and the [United Nations] Security Council’s resolution that introduced Iran as a threat has been voided,” he said, adding that such advantages have made Iran’s commitment to JCPOA beneficial.
He, however, stressed that as soon as these benefits disappear, Iran will take a different decision.
“We are also negotiating [with the remaining parties] to revive the economic gains of JCPOA to the greatest possible extent,” he said.
