Iran calls on Europe to normalize economic ties
(Baonghean) - On June 9, Iran declared that Europe has no right to criticize Tehran, and urged European leaders to normalize economic relations with the Islamic country, despite sanctions from the US.
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| Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif called on European countries to normalize economic relations with Iran. Photo: EPA - EFE |
President Donald Trump last year officially announced the US withdrawal from the "JCPOA" nuclear deal and imposed sanctions on Iran. Trump criticized the 2015 nuclear deal signed by his predecessor Barack Obama.
The European signatories to the deal, including France, Britain and Germany, share common concerns with the United States about Iran's ballistic missile program and its regional activities.
“Europe has no right to criticize Iran on issues outside the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said. “Europe and the other signatories of the JCPOA should normalize their economic relations with Iran… Otherwise, we will stop implementing our commitments or take actions in accordance with their behavior.”
Last month, Iran stopped implementing its commitments under the nuclear deal and warned that it would continue to suspend some of the agreements in the next 60 days, if Europe does not help Iran counter US sanctions.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas will visit Iran this week to seek ways to maintain nuclear treaties.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on June 9 also criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for his remarks last week during a meeting with Trump, when he affirmed that France and the US shared the same goals on the Iranian nuclear issue.
“The French President's recent comments during his meeting with Trump were shameful and absurd,” Fars news agency reported.
The Iranian parliament speaker also said that President Macron's comments did not match what he had told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in meetings and phone calls.
