Naqavi: Establishment of EU Office in Tehran Will Make Circumventing Sanctions 'Impossible'

A member of the National Security Commission of the Parliament states that the establishment of an EU office in Iran will make circumventing sanctions 'impossible.' Hossein Naqavi Hosseini made this remark in response to renewed efforts to reopen the EU representation office in Tehran. He stated, 'This office certainly aims to gain insight into our financial and economic information like the CFT, rather than helping us circumvent sanctions.' He added that officials of the Islamic Republic should obtain 'guarantees' from Europeans that 'this office will not turn into a new spy nest in Iran.' Naqavi Hosseini expressed concerns that the Iranian people are worried that under the pretext of establishing the EU office, political interventions in internal affairs could occur and reports against our country could be prepared. He believes that with the establishment of the EU office in Iran, 'practically every European ambassador or foreign minister' visiting Iran will have the opportunity to 'interfere in internal affairs.' Following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA and the interest of Iran and European countries in preserving this agreement, news has emerged about the reopening of the EU office in Iran, which has faced both supportive and opposing reactions. Ali Najafi Khoshroudi, spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, welcomed this development, stating that 'the review of this matter is on the agenda of relevant authorities, but there are considerations.' He did not elaborate on these 'considerations.' European leaders have repeatedly stated that they are working to preserve the JCPOA and ensure Iran benefits from its commitment to this agreement, a sentiment confirmed by Hassan Rouhani and Mohammad Javad Zarif, although they deemed it insufficient. Western diplomats have also indicated that the new EU mechanism to assist Iran in receiving payment for its exports will symbolically begin on November 4, coinciding with the start of the second phase of US sanctions against Tehran, targeting Iran's oil industry and aiming to reduce its exports to zero. The EU mechanism, known as the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), is intended to preempt US sanctions against banks involved in transferring funds for Iran's oil exports. This mechanism ensures that, for example, the money from Iran's oil exports to European countries is compensated by the sale of European goods and services to Iran. Meanwhile, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has expressed skepticism towards Europeans, stating, 'We should look to the East, not the West, as looking to the West and Europe only leads to waiting, begging, and shrinking without benefit.' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has urged Hassan Rouhani's government to 'give up hope' regarding issues like the JCPOA or the economy from Europeans and to view their promises with skepticism.