Iran press/Iran: Pointing out the European Union package, added,Mohammad Javad Zarif ,"It is a package that helps both sides have relations with one another, and has nothing to do with the JCPOA,” Iranian foreign minister said, calling relating the package to the nuclear deal ‘senseless’.
“The EU was supposed to take several actions, including maintaining Iran's oil sales and preserving the banking channels, both of which we are still waiting for to happen,” he added.
Zarif made the remarks on Saturday afternoon on the sidelines of a conference in Tehran in response to questions put forward by reporters regarding the package of 18 milions Euro that the European Union recently announced it would give Iran in support of sustainable economic and social development in the country.
Meanwhile,The EU Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif signed a joint statement in Tehran on April 16, 2016, which urged cooperation between Iran and the European Commission as the executive arm of the EU, the FM spokesman said.
Following the exchange of high-ranking delegations between the two sides, the cooperation became operational in the areas of agriculture, immigration, industry and higher education, Bahram Ghasemi added.
Ghasemi also said, "European Commission allocated €18 million on Thursday for the developmental projects due to be implemented in Iran. It is the first chunk of a €50 million budget set aside for the purpose by the European Commission,"
Related News: European Commission adopts support package for Iran
Cooperation between the EU and Iran in these sectors involves high-level dialogues, technical exchanges and concrete projects. This includes support to Iran's national nuclear regulatory authority and the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The Commission also assists Iran since 2001 by providing support to the education, health care, and job opportunities benefitting the 3.5 million Afghan refugees and migrants residing in the country.
The European Union is fully committed to the continued, full and effective implementation of the JCPOA, as long as Iran respects its nuclear-related commitments. The lifting of nuclear-related sanctions allowing for the normalisation of trade and economic relations with Iran constitutes an essential part of the JCPOA.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Monday that Europeans have done a 'very good' job in announcing stances but Time is ripe for Europe to make a decision. They cannot procrastinate any longer.
'As said earlier, Europeans did quite well in announcing their stances; however, they should take practical steps in translating those stances; they can no longer "wait and see" , said Zarif.
The JCPOA could change the security atmosphere formed against Iran to isolate the US and it is now Europe's turn to pay its share to guarantee their long lasting interests, he said.Time is ripe for Europe to make decision as they cannot buy time any longer, he said.
European allies tried and failed to persuade Trump not to walk out of the 2015 agreement, under which Iran agreed to curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of international sanctions. Rouhani said Washington would come to rue a move that had been rejected by other countries.
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