Salehi Warns the European Union: Iran's Patience is Running Out

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization warned the European Union on Tuesday, December 6, that Tehran's patience regarding the EU's promises to continue oil transactions despite U.S. sanctions is running out. Ali Akbar Salehi stated that if Iran does not benefit economically from the JCPOA, it may resume uranium enrichment to 20% purity. This Iranian official, before meeting with Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief in Brussels, told Reuters: "If we cannot sell our oil and use financial transfer in the financial network, I believe maintaining the nuclear agreement will not be in our favor." He added: "I will remind her (Ms. Mogherini) of this. I think the period of patience for our people is coming to an end. We are reaching the end of the deadlines that were supposed to be a few months long." After this meeting, Federica Mogherini stated that both she and Mr. Salehi are committed to preserving the nuclear agreement. The office of the EU's foreign policy chief issued a statement saying: "Both sides emphasized their commitment to maintaining the nuclear agreement as an important matter of respect for international agreements and a significant pillar in maintaining security in Europe and the region." The statement also mentioned that Ms. Mogherini reiterated the EU's concerns about Iran's interference in the region, directly referencing the situations in countries like Yemen and Syria. Abbas Araghchi stated: "The benefits of the JCPOA for Iran are close to zero." The U.S. government reinstated nuclear sanctions against Iran on May 8 of this year after withdrawing from the JCPOA. The Trump administration claims that the JCPOA is a weak agreement because it does not prevent Iran's missile activities and its interference in the region. The second wave of U.S. sanctions, one of whose main goals is to cut Iran's oil exports, was implemented in mid-November. However, from Europe's perspective, maintaining the JCPOA is an important factor in international security. One of the topics of discussion between Ali Akbar Salehi and the EU was cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy, which the EU sees as a sign of support for the JCPOA. Mr. Salehi, in another part of his interview with Reuters, said: "We have not seen any tangible results from the EU's promises so far. We welcome the EU's special mechanism for non-dollar transactions, but only if it preserves Iran's oil exports." He added: "If it does not benefit us, why should we remain in the JCPOA? In Iran, opposing voices to this agreement are growing every day." According to experts, Iran's oil exports in November are likely to be around one million barrels per day, whereas earlier this year it was about 2.8 million barrels. However, with the six-month exemption for Iran's main oil customers from U.S. sanctions, including Greece and Italy, two EU members, it is expected that the volume of these exports will increase somewhat in December. Ali Akbar Salehi, in another part of his interview with Reuters, said: "We can resume 20% uranium enrichment and increase our enriched uranium stockpile."