Iran Press/America: The British prime minister Boris Johnson who was scheduled to meet President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, unexpectedly met French President Emmanuel Macron, who was busy talking to president Rouhani and a three-way meeting took place in New York.
Both Macron and Johnson urged President Rouhani to have a meeting with US president, Donald Trump.
According to an Iran Press report, Macron told Rouhani: "What is important is that President Rouhani should meet with President Trump. If this meeting doesn't happen, it would be a lost opportunity, because president Rouhani will not visit the United States over the next few months, and likewise Donald Trump is unlikely to visit Tehran in the coming months. Therefore the meeting should take place right here and now."
British prime minister Boris Johnson nodded in agreement saying: "I agree with what Emmanuel says."
After the brief three-way meeting, president Rouhani and prime minister Boris Johnson formally met and conferred on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
President Rouhani told Boris Johnson: "Europe should meet its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)". President Rouhani also stressed that cooperation between regional countries is the only way of ensuring lasting peace and security in the Persian Gulf region.
President Rouhani also strongly rejected a joint statement by France, Germany, and Britain, saying: "We are very sad that the E3 countries, all members of the the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have issued such a statement making baseless accusations against Iran. At the current sensitive juncture, such a statement is neither constructive nor helpful."
In his meeting with Boris Johnson, Rouhani criticised London for not doing enough to ensure that Iran benefits economically from the nuclear deal (JCPOA), and urged the British government to honour its commitments fully according to the agreement. He also urged Boris Johnson to make INSTEX operational as soon as possible. President Rouhani said trade between Iran and Europe is an essential part of JCPOA.
The Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) is a European special-purpose vehicle which is meant to facilitate non-USD transactions between European countries and Iran, bypassing US sanctions against Tehran.
Rouhani - Johnson meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly
Elsewhere in his remarks, president Rouhani discussed the Strait of Hormuz Peace Initiative (also known as the Hope Peace Initiative) with prime minister Boris Johnson, and urged the British government to support the peace initiative. President Rouhani will officially present the Strait of Hormuz Peace Initiative to world leaders in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.
It should be noted that Germany, Britain and France said on Monday that Iran was behind the attack on Saudi oil facilities earlier this month and called on Tehran to avoid further "provocation."
"It is clear for us that Iran bears responsibility for this attack. There is no other explanation," French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a joint statement after meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
The E3 countries took the US line on the attacks on Saudi oil facilities, saying it was "clear" Iran was behind the strikes. However, the three European leaders called for diplomacy to avoid a potential conflict in the Middle East.
However, Iran has rejected any suggestion of a meeting between Rouhani and Trump, saying the only way the Americans can negotiate with Iran is for them to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and lift all sanctions against Tehran.
The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif ruled out negotiating any new nuclear agreement. European countries had failed to "fulfill their obligations" under the 2015 pact, he tweeted.
Zarif tweeted: "E3's paralysis in fulfilling their obligations w/o US permission has been clear since May 2018.Solution to this deficiency: mustering will to forge independent path—not parroting absurd US claims & requests INCONSISTENT with JCPOA. No new deal before compliance w/ current one."
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