Tehran says it is not after fueling tensions and keeps the door open to diplomacy and talks despite Europe’s failure to stand up to US pressure and uphold its commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal. At the same time, Iran welcomes France's efforts to salvage JCPOA.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Wednesday that the country remains committed to the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), but at the same time, defends the nation’s rights.
“Although Iran is pursuing this strategy, we have not closed the door to diplomacy and the door is open to talks,” he added.
The remarks came as Emmanuel Bonne, French President Emmanuel Macron’s top diplomatic adviser, is in Tehran to hold talks with Iranian officials in a bid to salvage the JCPOA and de-escalate the tensions, which broke out in the aftermath of the US’s unilateral withdrawal last year from the accord and re-imposition of harsh economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
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Iran initially said it would stay in the deal if the other signatories — France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China — manage to fill in for the United States and offset Washington’s anti-Iran sanctions.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Mousavi stressed that Tehran was not seeking to fan the flames of tensions, and that the European countries should address “the root cause of the tensions” if they really seek to calm the situation.
“The illegal and unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear agreement followed by extensive sanctions — which they (the Americans) call crippling and backbreaking — are examples of the Unites States’ measures against the Iranian nation, which consider as nothing but economic terrorism and economic war,” he said.
Mousavi also welcomed France’s efforts to keep the Iran deal in place, but said such efforts are part of Paris’ obligations as a party to the JCPOA.
Bonne is set to hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani during his stay in Tehran as the Europeans speed up efforts towards saving the Iran deal.
