Kharrazi Criticizes 'Repeated Delays by the European Union' in Implementing Special Financial Mechanism

Amid reports of tension from the meeting held 11 days ago between European diplomats and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi, head of Iran's Foreign Relations Council, criticized the delay in launching the EU's financial mechanism for cooperation with Iran. According to ISNA news agency, Kharrazi stated on Saturday, January 29, that the 'repeated delays by the European Union' in operationalizing the special financial mechanism for interaction with Iran are 'unacceptable.' He added, 'If European governments knew they had no influence over their companies, why did they enter negotiations with Iran?' The financial mechanism with Iran is expected to be announced this month, but its operationalization will take several months. Reports indicate that this mechanism will be registered in France, managed by a representative from Germany, and possibly the UK will also be one of its shareholders. Iran and Europe intend to continue cooperation to preserve the JCPOA, while their relations have recently been strained due to Iran's missile program and allegations against the Islamic Republic regarding attempts to assassinate its opponents in Europe. Meanwhile, the Iran newspaper reported on Saturday that on January 18, diplomats from several European countries unexpectedly visited the office of Abbas Araghchi, Deputy Foreign Minister, expressing concern over Iran's missile activities. These diplomats intended to deliver a related document to Iranian officials, but Araghchi announced that the meeting was over and left angrily. On Friday, Reuters reported that diplomats from France, the UK, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium told the Iranian representative that they would no longer tolerate the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile program and plans to assassinate government opponents on European soil. According to the report, Iranian officials left the meeting in anger after hearing the European diplomats' remarks, contrary to diplomatic norms. However, on January 19, the Iranian Foreign Ministry provided a different account of the meeting, stating that six European ambassadors and chargé d'affaires attempted to justify the Union's positions but faced a harsh response from the official they met with. Reuters also reported that EU member states plan to issue a joint statement in the coming days regarding 'Iran's interventions in regional affairs' and will also demand that the Islamic Republic end its missile tests. According to the report, this statement was supposed to be released on Monday, but Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, is not in favor of its release on that day and wants it to be published after the EU's financial mechanism for Iran is launched. France condemned Iran's action of launching a satellite-carrying missile on Wednesday, January 26, and asked Tehran to refrain from any ballistic missile tests that violate UN resolutions. There is a possibility of Eastern European countries aligning more closely with the United States against Iran. Reuters further reported statements from four European diplomats who spoke about the likelihood of Eastern European countries moving closer to the U.S. stance in confronting Iran. They indicated that Eastern European countries might seek security guarantees from Donald Trump in exchange for aligning with him. Although European countries have gradually adopted stronger positions regarding Iran's extraterritorial activities and missile program, the Warsaw meeting on Iran, initiated by the U.S., may exacerbate divisions between Eastern and Western Europe. Federica Mogherini's office announced last week that she would not be able to attend the Poland meeting due to pre-scheduled commitments. Other European countries have yet to comment on their participation in this conference and the diplomatic level of their representatives. The Reuters report also mentioned the possibility of further economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic by European countries. Three European diplomats told Reuters that these economic sanctions could lead to the freezing of bank accounts and travel bans for commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and those involved in developing Iran's ballistic missile program. An official from the U.S. State Department also stated that there is currently an emerging international consensus regarding the threats and dangers posed by Iran. The Danish Foreign Minister reported on Tuesday, January 18, that the EU had agreed to impose sanctions on one of Iran's intelligence agencies due to 'planning assassinations on European soil.'