Speaking to reporters and journalists at a press briefing, after his meeting with EU’s energy chief, Miguel Arias Canete, in Tehran, Zanganeh underlined that the US decision to pull out of the deal also known as the Joint Comprehensive of Action (JCPOA), would not lead to a reduction in Tehran's oil exports if the EU could salvage the deal.
Oil minister, Zanganeh added: "Every new decision in OPEC needs unanimity... I believe that with assistance of the European Union ..... the level of our oil exports will not change."
Elsewhere in his remarks, oil minister, Zanganeh said various issues which were discussed in a recent meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran, Germany , France and Britain, during Mohammad Javad Zarif's trip to Europe, were also discussed today between himself and EU’s energy commissioner, Miguel Arias Canete.
Zanganeh said Canete acted as a messenger for the European Union, assuring us that the EU remains fully committed to the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). Zanganeh also emphasized that both Iran and the EU need to get into the details of how to implement agreements, making them "fully operational". Zanganeh said in Canete's further meetings with Iranian officials, these details will be discussed.
Following US move in May to quit the deal, the US Treasury Department announced the administration would re-impose a wide range of Iran-related sanctions after the expiry of 90- and 180-day wind-down periods, including sanctions on Iran’s oil sector.
To salvage the deal, the EU announced a package of measures on Friday to counter US sanctions on Iran.
Earlier, Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and EU Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete met in Tehran on Saturday.
Also, Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said the visit by EU’s top energy official carries a powerful message given the recent developments regarding the JCPOA, saying that Mr. Canete highlighted the EU’s compliance with its commitments under the nuclear agreement.
Under the JCPOA, signed in 2015 by the US, France, Germany, the UK, China and Russia, Iran agreed to scale back its nuclear activities in return for many western sanctions being lifted. It enabled Tehran to more than double its oil exports, which helped lift the country out of a deep recession.
The EU sees the agreement as an important element of international security.
