Zarif Invited to Brussels as Tehran Plans to Cut JCPOA Compliance

European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, urged a de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East in a talk with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday, an EU statement said on Sunday.
Days after the killing of the top Iranian military commander, Qasem Soleimani, in Iraq, Borrell called on Iran to “carefully consider any reaction” and invited Zarif to Brussels to discuss the situation in the Middle East and the preservation of the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, Reuters reported. 
In a regular press briefing on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said talks are underway on the possible trip by Zarif to Brussels, “but nothing has been finalized”, IRNA reported. 
Mousavi also said top Iranian officials were to hold an “important” meeting on Sunday night to make a decision about Tehran’s next step to reduce its compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the formal name of the nuclear deal Iran signed with six world powers. 
Iran is gradually stepping away from the accord in response to the US exit from the deal and the remaining parties’ failure to offset the impact of US sanctions on the Iranian economy.