Iran Press/ Iran news: Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi has said that INSTEX is now operational but without selling oil, it cannot meet Iran's expectations in any way, thus we ask Europe to seriously examine Iran's oil selling mechanism, Iran Press reported.
In an interview published in the Lebanese daily Al Akhbar on Saturday, Mousavi added: "JCPOA deal is not in a good condition, however, the Vienna meeting was a constructive step and Iran's negotiations with other parties of the deal did not end in failure."
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He said: "With the signing of the JCPOA deal, we began a new phase of engagement with Europe and America, but the withdrawal of the US was a major obstacle to this policy. For a year, the Islamic Republic of Iran relied on the policy of 'strategic patience'."
"At that stage, while our economic interests were not provided, maintaining this situation was generally in the interests of Iran because the benefits were not merely economic and included political and security considerations as well," he noted.
Mousavi further added: "But with the misguided and tough policies of the US and subsequent sanctions, as well as the policy of preventing Iran's oil exports, we entered a new phase, and Iran's commitments to the deal gradually diminished."
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Mousavi pointedly said: "We shall never accept an agreement whereby Iran adheres unilaterally, but other signatory countries refuse or fail to adhere to the agreement."
The foreign ministry spokesman stressed that Iran is not planning to leave JCPOA, but with the 60-day deadline, all of us have witnessed the stabilization of Iran's second step in gradually reducing its obligations inside JCPOA framework while it is different from leaving the deal.
Third parties seeking to outbreak of war with Iran
Asked about the Persian Gulf security perspective Mousavi warned: "In the current situation, there are third parties seeking to open all possibilities, including a war with Iran. The increase in foreign military presence in the region naturally increases the risk of military confrontation, but Iran is definitely not looking for a war, and we have declared this repeatedly and consider ourselves committed to it."
The foreign ministry spokesman further stressed: "The Islamic Republic will not start any war, but it will defend its territorial integrity with full force. The downing of the US drone was a clear message to the Americans that no action would be left unanswered. Whether the Americans carry out limited or broad action, we will respond swiftly, robustly, and forcefully."
He also went on to say that the recent non-aggression treaty proposed by Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is a good proposal for Iran's neighbours to consider.
"Despite the changing situation in the region, our policy is still to maintain good relations with our neighbours," Mousavi emphasised. 101/211/208
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