The European Union's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini emphasized Europe’s adherence to the full implementation of the JCPOA, saying that INSTEX will be run so that the first transactions hopefully commence in the next few weeks.

Iran Press/Europe: European Union's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini reiterated Europe’s adherence to the full implementation of the JCPOA, saying that INSTEX will get up and running and have the first transactions hopefully in the next few weeks.

Mogherini made the remarks after a meeting with EU’s foreign ministers when she stressed the need for dialogue as 'the only and the best way to address differences and avoid escalation' in the region, reported the European media.

She also called on Iran to remain committed to the nuclear deal, saying, "We continue to fully support the nuclear deal with Iran, its full implementation."

"It has been and continues to be for us a key element of the non-proliferation architecture both globally and in the region."

Mogherini chaired a meeting of the so-called E3 -- Britain, France and Germany -- to discuss efforts to keep the deal going, including the special trade mechanism called INSTEX the trio set up to try to enable legitimate trade with Iran to continue without falling foul of US sanctions.

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INSTEX was launched in January but it is still not operational and its failure to get going has been criticized by senior Iranian officials.

Asked about Iran's insistence on exporting one-and-a-half million barrels of oil a day, she said that this is not an issue for her to comment on.


The EU is determined to comply with the deal until Iran remains committed to it, she insisted.

Recalling that International Atomic Energy Agency has verified Iran’s compliance with the deal, Mogherini said that foreign ministers of 28 European states also stress that IAEA is the only source for evaluating Iran’s adherence to the deal.

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EU foreign ministers convened on Monday for the first time after Iran issued an ultimatum to the Europeans last week.

Europe to implement JCPOA in full with Iran

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini made the remarks in Brussels on Monday after a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers. The summit was crashed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who reportedly tried to sell Washington’s hard line on the Islamic Republic.

Mogherini, however, argued for "maximum restraint and avoiding any escalation on the military side", insisting this would be "the most responsible" course of action.

“Pompeo heard that very clearly today from us, not only from myself, but also from the other ministers of EU member states,” she added. The top US diplomat had to shave a day off a planned visit to Russia to jet into the summit.

“We are living in a crucial delicate moment,” Mogherini noted, adding, "We, as you know, as the European Union, always encourage dialog and diplomatic engagement. This has always been our commitment. This is what we are practising, including with Iran.”

Pompeo is the alleged brain behind the administration of US President Donald Trump’s policy of “maximum pressure” against Iran. The policy also has National Security Adviser John Bolton as the person trying his best to escalate it into a military conflict.

The US left a multi-lateral nuclear deal with Iran in May 2018, which has the UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany as its other signatories, last year. It then reinstated the sanctions that had been lifted under the accord.

The move came while the deal had been ratified in the form of a United Nations Security Council resolution, making Washington responsible for violating international laws.

Washington has also been trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to ramp up pressure on Tehran.

The Europeans have, time and again, declared that they would be staying true to the deal and make up for the America's withdrawal from the agreement.

Mogherini likewise said: "There is full determination on the European Union's side, and also all the member states expressed that today very clearly on continuing to implement it at full the nuclear deal with Iran."

Iran, however, has complained about Europe failing to act on its verbal support for the deal, and failing to do business with Iran.

On May 8, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani announced a decision made by the Supreme National Security Council, the country’s top security body, to suspend the implementation of some of the Islamic Republic’s commitments under the multinational agreement.

The EU official claimed the Brussels meeting saw the ministers addressing ways to conduct financial transactions with the Islamic Republic despite the bans.

In January, the UK, France, and Germany announced the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchange (INSTEX), a non-dollar direct payment channel with Tehran.

Mogherini said she and the ministers had addressed “ways in which we can further advance on the, for instance, operationalization of INSTEX to have first transactions in, hopefully, the next few weeks.”  103/211/203

 

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INSTEX ready to initiate trade transactions between European companies and Iran