End of Brussels Meeting; Mogherini: The European Union is Determined to Preserve the JCPOA

A joint meeting was held in Brussels between Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, and the foreign ministers of Germany, Britain, and France. According to reports, European officials emphasized the importance of preserving the JCPOA while expressing concerns about Iran's ballistic missile program and Tehran's role in the region, stating that these issues should be discussed in a different framework. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel reiterated his country's support for the nuclear deal, stating that the JCPOA should be considered separately from Iran's missile program. After the meeting, Mogherini described the JCPOA as 'fruitful' and affirmed the EU's commitment to maintaining the nuclear agreement. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also stressed the necessity for all parties to adhere to the JCPOA. British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson stated that no better option has been presented to prevent Iran from acquiring military nuclear capabilities. Following the meeting, the EU, along with Germany, France, and Britain, urged the United States to maintain the nuclear agreement with Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce his decision regarding the JCPOA on Friday. Under current U.S. law, the president is required to report to Congress every 90 days on Iran's compliance with the JCPOA. However, Trump last refrained from confirming this on October 22. Following his refusal, Congress has not made a decision on the matter, and the 90-day deadline is nearing its end. Additionally, another deadline for extending the suspension of sanctions against Tehran is approaching, which requires the president's signature. Since the murmurs of Trump's opposition to the nuclear agreement began, Europeans have launched a campaign to emphasize their support for the deal in Europe and the U.S. The Trump administration and its supporters argue that the Islamic Republic of Iran is not adhering to the 'spirit of the JCPOA' due to its missile tests and activities in the region, including in Syria and Yemen. Trump has also expressed concern about the 'sunset clause' in the Iran nuclear agreement, which pertains to the lifting of restrictions after the agreement's time frame, raising fears that 'Iran could achieve the capability to build nuclear weapons even before the agreement ends.' Europeans, who wish to have the U.S. on their side, argue that while Iran's missile program should be addressed and Tehran held accountable for its actions in the Middle East, they must also adhere to the JCPOA. This point was emphasized by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel before the Brussels meeting, stating, 'We must separate these two issues: preserving the nuclear agreement with Iran... and Iran's problematic role in the region.' He highlighted Iran's influence in Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon, noting that Europeans also wish to discuss 'Iran's very problematic role in the region.' Tehran has consistently insisted that it is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons and that its missile program has only a 'defensive aspect.' Supporting the German foreign minister's position, his British counterpart issued a statement before the Thursday meeting describing the JCPOA as 'a vital agreement that makes the world safer.' The German foreign minister previously stated in December, during discussions with U.S. officials in Washington, that dismantling the nuclear agreement between Iran and the six world powers would send a 'devastating message' that would lead to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Zarif reported a 'strong consensus' in Brussels. In a tweet regarding the Thursday meeting in Brussels, Mohammad Javad Zarif mentioned what he called a 'strong consensus' in his discussions with the EU's foreign policy chief and the foreign ministers of Germany, Britain, and France. According to the state news agency IRNA, he also announced Iran's 'commitment' to the JCPOA, stating, 'The people of Iran have every right to benefit from the advantages of the JCPOA,' and 'Any action that undermines the JCPOA is unacceptable.' Zarif noted that 'the three European countries (France, Britain, and Germany) and the EU are well aware that Iran's continued adherence to the JCPOA is conditional on the full compliance of the U.S. with this agreement.' Meanwhile, Amnesty International issued a statement on Thursday urging European ministers to raise the issue of detainees from recent protests in Iran with their Iranian counterpart. The organization, referencing the detention of hundreds during the protests, called on European ministers to demand that Iranian officials cease these actions due to human rights violations. Amnesty International also called for investigations into reported 'suicides' among recently detained protesters in another statement last Tuesday.