Zarif: Europeans are on the right path to preserve the JCPOA

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated that the European efforts to maintain the nuclear agreement, known as the JCPOA, are not at the level expected, but he believes they are moving in the right direction. Regarding potential negotiations with the U.S. government, he mentioned that such discussions are 'not taboo,' but 'no party wants to enter a time-consuming, tense, and fruitless process.' In an interview with the IRNA news agency published on August 8, Zarif noted that the European Union's proposed package to preserve the JCPOA after the U.S. withdrawal has 'clear outlines,' including 'a banking pathway for Iran's financial transactions' and 'the sale of Iran's oil at current levels.' Donald Trump, a staunch opponent of the JCPOA, signed a directive on Monday for the re-imposition of the first phase of sanctions against Iran, which went into effect on Tuesday. The next phase of sanctions, particularly concerning oil sales, is expected to be implemented in November. Zarif stated that Europeans have undertaken extensive efforts both within and outside the EU to preserve the JCPOA. The EU, unlike the United States, has sought to maintain the nuclear agreement and expressed regret after the U.S. withdrawal. However, a recent advisor to the Supreme Leader criticized the 'contradictory behavior' of Europe regarding the JCPOA, and Zarif himself has stated that the EU's political support is 'not enough' and that 'more practical steps need to be taken.' Zarif mentioned some actions by the EU, including 'activating small and medium enterprises,' 'consultations to revive the law preventing the implementation of sanctions,' and 'issuing permits for the European Investment Bank.' These topics have also been raised by senior EU officials. On Tuesday, Federica Mogherini, the EU's chief foreign policy official, stated that the EU encourages small and medium enterprises to increase trade with Iran. Günther Oettinger, the European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, also mentioned that German deposit and credit institutions have the capacity to resolve issues in relations with Iran despite U.S. sanctions. These statements come as Trump has warned about the consequences of not adhering to sanctions, stating on Twitter that 'anyone who does business with Iran will not do business with the United States.' Trump emphasized that Iran's sanctions are the 'most biting' ever imposed and that another phase will be implemented in November. Zarif believes that a significant part of the EU's commitments must be operational before the implementation of oil and banking sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department has stated that the return of sanctions will be executed in two phases, with the second phase primarily targeting Iran's oil industry set to take effect on November 4. U.S. officials claim they are working to bring Iran's oil exports close to zero by that time. Zarif reiterated that negotiations with the U.S. are 'not taboo,' but there are prerequisites, questioning how confidently such negotiations could be pursued to achieve results. He noted that, as far as he knows, there are currently no ongoing discussions between the two countries. Zarif added that there are certainly messages from countries for mediation, and if someone were to tell the Americans to be prudent, no one would oppose that. However, as far as he knows, there have been no direct talks or exchanged messages between Iran and the U.S. regarding this matter. This explanation relates to reports concerning Oman's mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington, which have historical precedent. Trump has stated he is willing to meet with Iran's president without preconditions, but emphasized that it ultimately depends on the Iranian officials. The U.S. Secretary of State has also stated that if the Iranians show a commitment to making fundamental changes in their treatment of their people, reduce their destructive behavior in the region, and enter into an agreement that genuinely prevents the proliferation of nuclear weapons, then the President is ready to sit down and talk with them. In response to these statements, Zarif remarked that 'Trump announces negotiations without preconditions, and then, two hours later, the U.S. Secretary of State announces three unattainable conditions for negotiation.'