EU Foreign Ministers Emphasize Continued Support for Iran's Nuclear Agreement

On Monday, the foreign ministers of EU member states reiterated their support for the nuclear agreement between Iran and global powers, and Iran welcomed this stance through its foreign ministry spokesperson. Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, had described the nuclear agreement with Iran as the worst deal possible during his campaign and emphasized that he would renew negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program upon taking office. This position has recently received a similar reaction from Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, and Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, both of whom separately stated that the JCPOA is a multilateral and international agreement endorsed by the Security Council, and its implementation benefits all parties involved. According to an Associated Press report, the European foreign ministers in their meeting on Monday emphasized their commitment to the nuclear agreement involving the three main EU countries; the UK, France, and Germany, along with the United States, Russia, and China. This commitment, as described by them, includes 'lifting economic and financial sanctions related to the nuclear issue, and engaging the private sector and economic institutions, especially banks, to enhance trade exchanges and investment.' They also welcomed the issuance of licenses for the sale of passenger aircraft to Iran by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control and called for the continuation of the licensing process in this regard, which the EU foreign ministers described as an important sign of the successful implementation of the JCPOA. In this context, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, also welcomed the EU's position, stating that 'despite significant progress in various levels of cooperation and the numerous capacities available for deepening and expanding relations, the definitive resolution of banking issues will be a key and determining factor in developing trade, economic cooperation, and executing joint projects.' He also referred to the EU's official support for Iran's accession to the World Trade Organization, calling for practical actions from the EU in this accession process. A draft statement from the EU foreign ministers regarding Iran, which was published in recent days, also refers to the Iranian President's promise to improve the human rights situation, but emphasizes their opposition to the implementation of the death penalty in all circumstances, stating that concerns remain regarding the human rights situation in Iran, particularly the frequent execution of death sentences for drug-related offenses and minors. The EU foreign ministers also stressed the necessity of ensuring equal rights for women, ethnic and religious minorities, and respecting freedom of expression and assembly, and called for Iran's cooperation with the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights. However, regarding human rights, the spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry stated that the Islamic Republic is ready to 'clarify Islamic views on human rights in a calm and non-contentious atmosphere through dialogue and exchange of views,' and to work towards bringing the views of both sides closer together. The EU foreign ministers also emphasized Iran's important role in regional developments in their statement and described it as very important for Tehran to take constructive and tangible steps to improve regional conditions, while simultaneously expressing concern about the militarization of the region, including in light of Iran's missile program. They urged Iran to refrain from actions that could exacerbate misunderstandings, including ballistic missile tests that contradict UN Security Council Resolution 2231. Nevertheless, the spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, referring to the Islamic Republic's diplomatic efforts to resolve regional crises, described Iran's missile tests as part of the Islamic Republic's defense policies and asserted that 'Iran's defensive capabilities are in no way negotiable or subject to compromise.' Since the signing of the nuclear agreement between Iran and global powers and even after its implementation last January, Iran has conducted several missile tests that have drawn significant criticism in the West, resulting in new sanctions against six Iranian companies and two individuals. According to the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs, currently, 89 individuals or entities are subject to UN sanctions related to Iran's missile program.