Hassan Rouhani: The European Proposal Does Not Include All of Iran's Demands

On the eve of a meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and five global powers regarding the continuation of the JCPOA, Iranian media reported that Hassan Rouhani, in a call with the leaders of France and Germany, stated that the European proposal does not meet all of Iran's demands. According to the state news agency IRNA, Rouhani said during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron that the Islamic Republic expects Europe to provide a 'clear operational plan with a timeline' to compensate for the U.S. withdrawal. In the same report, Rouhani described the proposal from the three European countries as 'disappointing' in his conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, criticizing that the package lacked 'operational solutions and a clear method for continuing cooperation' and contained only general commitments akin to previous EU statements. The leaders of Germany and France emphasized the need for 'continued dialogue' and noted that the proposal only addressed 'general and principled issues.' It was previously reported that the European economic proposals would be presented to Iran on Friday. The foreign ministers of Iran and the five global powers are set to meet on Friday at the Coburg Hotel in Vienna, chaired by Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, to discuss the continuation of the JCPOA. Rouhani expressed hope that this meeting could fulfill Iran's demands for continued cooperation in the JCPOA and play a compensatory role in light of the U.S. withdrawal. Donald Trump announced the U.S. exit from the nuclear deal with Iran on May 8, stating that the JCPOA did not prevent the development of Iran's ballistic missile program or its 'support for terrorism in the region.' According to a schedule announced by Brian Hook, the U.S. State Department's policy director, a new round of sanctions, which includes Iran's automotive sector and gold trade, will begin on August 4, and sanctions on oil, energy, and banking transactions will start on November 4. In recent weeks, negotiations have been ongoing between Iran and the three European countries of France, Germany, and the UK to 'save the JCPOA despite U.S. sanctions.' All three negotiating countries have emphasized their commitment to remaining in the JCPOA while sharing concerns with the U.S. regarding Iran's missile program and its actions in the region. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was an agreement signed on July 14, 2015, between Iran and six global powers after years of negotiations. Under this agreement, Iran committed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions and to submit to full oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA has confirmed Iran's compliance with the JCPOA in all of its reports.