Zarif: Europe's Political Support for JCPOA is Not Enough, Practical Steps Must Be Taken

Simultaneously with the criticism of the international advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic regarding what he called Europe's "contradictory behavior" about the JCPOA, Iran's Foreign Minister announced that the European Union's political support for this agreement is "not enough" and that the EU must take "more practical steps". According to the IRNA news agency, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated on Sunday, 30 Ordibehesht, during a meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete, the EU Energy Commissioner who visited Tehran, that "Europe's political support for the JCPOA is not enough." Mr. Zarif emphasized that the EU must take "more practical steps and increase its investments in Iran" to continue its economic cooperation with Iran. He also stated that "the EU's commitment to implementing the JCPOA is inconsistent with the potential withdrawal of major European companies from cooperating with Iran." Following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and the re-imposition of unilateral sanctions within a 90-day and 180-day period, several European companies, including Total, Engie, and Maersk, announced that they would exit Iran if they did not receive exemptions from the U.S. Meanwhile, Bruno Le Maire, the French Finance Minister, announced on Sunday that Paris is considering the possibility of compensation from the EU to European companies that may be subject to U.S. sanctions due to working with Iran. European officials have stated that to counteract the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and the imposition of secondary U.S. sanctions against Iran, they intend to resort to "blocking regulations". The "blocking regulations" prevent EU companies from complying with U.S. sanctions and do not recognize any court ruling for the enforcement of U.S. penalties. The European Commission says that the planned measures will be implemented within two months unless the European Parliament or European governments officially reject these regulations. However, Mohammad Reza Rezai-Kouchi, the head of the Iranian Parliament's Civil Commission, told the Mehr news agency that "the JCPOA, in Mr. Zarif's view, is a dying patient in the ICU and in very critical condition." He stated that the Foreign Minister made these remarks during a closed session of Parliament on Sunday. Mr. Rezai-Kouchi clarified: "Mr. Zarif announced that we have entered negotiations with the Europeans and they have committed to guaranteeing Iran's interests, but it is unclear how much the Europeans can resist U.S. sanctions, as the shareholders of European companies are Americans." Mohammad Javad Abtahi, a representative from Khomeini Shahr in Parliament, also announced that Abbas Araqchi, Deputy Foreign Minister, stated in the closed session on Sunday that the three European countries are serious about preserving the JCPOA but "we are doubtful about whether they can continue the JCPOA without the U.S." According to this report, Mr. Araqchi said that the three European countries "do not want to enter into a political and trade war with the U.S. and cannot force their private sector companies to cooperate with Iran." Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Velayati, the advisor to the Supreme Leader on international affairs, said on Sunday: "Some EU members are speaking out of both sides of their mouths, saying they are committed to the JCPOA but stating that they will not stand up to the U.S." He referred to the Supreme Leader's remarks, stating that European countries must provide "guarantees" for the continuation of the JCPOA. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, has stated that he does not trust the Europeans and that "definite guarantees" must be obtained from them. Meanwhile, Abbas Araqchi announced that "the Europeans have 60 days to provide the necessary guarantees regarding the protection of Iran's interests and compensating for the damages caused by the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement." Negotiations between Iran and the five remaining countries in the JCPOA have begun following the U.S. withdrawal from this agreement. Meanwhile, the German newspaper "Welt am Sonntag" reported, citing "European sources", that in the meeting on Friday between Iranian representatives and the five global powers held in Vienna, it is proposed to Iran that in exchange for halting its interventions in the region and limiting its ballistic missile program, it would benefit from economic assistance. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed this report as "irrelevant" and "diversionary", stating that this news was published with the aim of creating a negative atmosphere around the negotiations regarding the JCPOA. Bahram Qasemi claimed that this news was published in "Israeli media think tanks" to create a negative atmosphere and divert the course of talks between Iran and the other parties to the JCPOA. Mr. Qasemi emphasized that the Islamic Republic will only negotiate about the commitments of the remaining countries in the JCPOA. Reuters also reported that officials from three European countries denied this report. The three European countries have also expressed concern about Iran's missile activities and its actions in the region while emphasizing the preservation of the JCPOA. For instance, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, recently stated that "the JCPOA is not ideal" but it is better to preserve the nuclear agreement to discuss other "threatening" issues concerning Iran.