Mogherini: The Audience of the US Secretary of State's Remarks Were All Supporters of the JCPOA

Federica Mogherini, the European Union's foreign policy chief, reacted on Monday, May 20, to the remarks made by Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, regarding the new US strategy following its withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran, the JCPOA, stating that the JCPOA has no alternative or substitute. In a statement, Federica Mogherini said: 'We listened to the speech of the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, a speech that was addressed not only to Iran but to all those who support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).' The EU foreign policy chief added: 'The Iran nuclear agreement and the continued support for it are major achievements of international diplomacy, as they guarantee the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear capacities.' Mr. Pompeo, in a speech at the Heritage Foundation on Monday, set forth 12 conditions for reaching a new nuclear agreement with Iran. He stated that the US would impose 'the most severe sanctions in history against Iran, and if the Iranian government does not change its behavior, the pressure of sanctions will increase.' Pompeo's speech comes about two weeks after Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced that the US would withdraw from the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers. Pompeo described the JCPOA as a 'losing deal' with 'significant negative consequences.' He added that since the signing of the nuclear agreement in July 2015, Iran has expanded its influence and activities in the Middle East. The US Secretary of State stated that the sanctions would impose 'unprecedented financial pressure' on Iran, describing Iran as the world's largest supporter of terrorism, and added: 'Iran will not have enough money to continue these activities.' However, the EU foreign policy chief stated that the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed ten times that Iran has fulfilled its commitments under the nuclear agreement and continues to implement it, and that the agency has also stated that it has been granted access to the sites it needs to fulfill its missions. Mogherini pointed out that the JCPOA is the result of a decade of complex and sensitive negotiations, stating: 'As long as Iran adheres to its nuclear commitments, the EU will remain committed to the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA.' She added: 'This agreement belongs to the international community and has been endorsed by the UN Security Council. The international community expects all parties to fulfill their commitments based on what they signed two years ago.' According to Mogherini, normalizing trade and economic relations with Iran is an important part of the JCPOA that the international community must adhere to. The EU foreign policy chief emphasized: 'The JCPOA was not designed to address all issues related to Iran. Concerns regarding Iran's role in the region, terrorism, and human rights violations have been raised intermittently by the EU, and the EU has imposed sanctions in this regard to change Iran's behavior.' Mogherini further stated: 'Secretary Pompeo did not specify in his speech how leaving the JCPOA would make the region safer regarding nuclear proliferation or how it would put us in a better position to influence Iran's actions outside the framework of the JCPOA.' The EU foreign policy chief added: 'The JCPOA has no substitute.' Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State in his speech on Monday called for the support of all US allies for the new strategy regarding Iran. He also warned European companies that have contracted with Iran in recent years that if they violate US sanctions, they will be held 'accountable.' The US Treasury Department has given European companies 90 days to cease their activities in Iran before sanctions take effect. European leaders are now seeking and implementing solutions to avoid US sanctions against Iran and to mitigate the impact of sanctions on European companies' activities in Iran.