The Foreign Ministry's spokesman said Iran is still “optimistic” about Europe’s efforts to set up a special trade mechanism aimed at sidestepping US sanctions.
“This is a very complicated issue and there are certain obstacles. There is US pressure on countries that may host the mechanism. However, they [the Europeans] have shown a firm will to establish it,” Bahram Qasemi also told a regular press briefing in Tehran on Monday, ISNA reported.
The Special Purpose Vehicle proposed by the European Union would allow non-dollar trade with Iran, circumventing US sanctions banning the global use of dollar for oil trading.
France and Germany are to take joint responsibility for the SPV, according to Reuters.
The United States restored sanctions targeting Iran’s oil, banking and transportation sectors in early November after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
The remaining signatories to the agreement—Russia, China, Britain, Germany and France—have made efforts to preserve the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Limited Scope
Asked about reports claiming that the mechanism is not expected to cover oil sales, Qasemi said, “Countries that do not want to see Iran cooperate with the European Union have been spreading rumors and making false assessments.”
There is no substance to these reports, he said, expressing hope that the mechanism will soon be finalized and officially announced by the EU.
Reuters recently quoted a number of diplomats as saying that the goals of SPV could be scaled back to encompass only less sensitive items such as humanitarian and food products, given the unrelenting US threats of retribution for sanctions-busting.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman also denied reports that Tehran and Seoul have agreed to set up a mechanism to barter South Korean goods for Iranian oil exports.
Military Threats
On the Trump administration’s recent threats of military action against Iran, Qasemi said, “The argument about military option has become threadbare … Such threats have been repeatedly issued by America and are not credible.”
Brian Hook, the US State Department's special representative on Iran, said on Thursday that military action against Iran could be possible should US sanctions fail to make the country alter its regional policies.
“We have been very clear with the Iranian [government] that we will not hesitate to use military force when our interests are threatened. I think they understand that. I think they understand that very clearly,” he told a press conference at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, The Hill reported.
Hook added, “I think right now, while we have the military option on the table, our preference is to use all of the tools that are at our disposal diplomatically.”
The Foreign Ministry spokesman said such remarks demonstrate Hook’s “childish inexperience”, adding that such threats can never be put into action.
