Iran and the European Union on the Path to Expanding Relations

With the lifting of nuclear sanctions and the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran and the European Union are now seeking to expand their relations. According to Iranian news agencies, the Deputy Minister for Europe and America at the Iranian Foreign Ministry has stated that reviewing the implementation of the JCPOA is part of the discussions with the EU's Foreign Policy Deputy who has traveled to Tehran. Majid Takht-Ravanchi, the Deputy Minister, mentioned that Abbas Araghchi, the head of the JCPOA follow-up committee, was also present in the meeting with Helga Schmid, the EU's Foreign Policy Deputy, and that the latest status of the JCPOA implementation would be reviewed in a session on Wednesday, along with discussions on regional issues. Takht-Ravanchi also stated that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will travel to Brussels next week to discuss bilateral issues with Federica Mogherini, the EU's Foreign Policy Chief. He previously indicated that following this round of negotiations, several EU commissioners would visit Iran, and Mogherini might also come to Iran. The exact date of the EU's Foreign Policy Coordinator's visit to Iran remains unspecified but is expected to be determined soon. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jabir Ansari stated that Iran and the EU have agreed to hold bilateral talks alternately in Tehran and Brussels, repeating every six months. Mehrdad Emadi, an economic and financial expert in London, sees a bright outlook for Iran-EU relations, believing that over the next four years, there will be an annual increase in trade relations and investment between Iran and the EU at a rate of 50 to 70 percent growth per year, partly because the current base is very small due to sanctions and because Iran is the only economy in the region and Western Asia with high growth potential. He noted that while neighboring countries have faced negative growth due to oil prices or issues related to Syria, Iran is not in this category, and despite low oil revenues, the diversity of Iran's economy has motivated the EU to eagerly begin rebuilding and developing relations with Iran, which will be very positive for both sides. Meanwhile, during the Greek Prime Minister's visit to Iran, three cooperation documents were signed between Tehran and Athens. The First Vice President of Iran stated in a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that the volume of economic relations between the two countries could increase rapidly, and with the signed documents, it is hoped that relations will witness serious developments in all dimensions. Eshaq Jahangiri also discussed the important areas of cooperation defined between the two countries, including maritime and road transport, shipping, scientific, cultural, and technological cooperation, resolving banking issues, and removing obstacles hindering the development of relations. The Greek Prime Minister, who began his visit to Iran with a tour of Isfahan, also met with President Hassan Rouhani, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Republic, and Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran. According to Iranian news agencies, Alexis Tsipras stated in his meeting with Hassan Rouhani that Greece would act beyond the EU in its relations with Iran. Iranian news agencies added that the expansion of cooperation between Iran, Greece, and the EU was discussed in the meetings between the Greek Prime Minister and senior Iranian officials.