Iran

US bullying will harm international system: Iran FM

 

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says US bullying will cause problems for the international system.

In a meeting with President of Italian Chamber of Deputies Roberto Fico in Rome on Friday, Zarif added that the US unilateral and illegal moves to withdraw from a multilateral nuclear agreement and exert pressure on other countries are instances of bullying which would have short-term and long-term negative outcomes in the international system.

He emphasized that Iran would successfully handle the ongoing situation.

In May, US President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), under which Tehran agreed to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions, and decided to re-impose unilateral sanctions against Tehran.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced the re-imposition of the “toughest” sanctions ever against Iran’s banking and energy sectors with the aim of cutting off the country’s oil sales and crucial exports.

A first round of American sanctions took effect in August, targeting Iran’s access to the US dollar, metals trading, coal, industrial software, and auto sector.

The US administration had been hoping to get the other parties to the deal with Iran to likewise scrap the deal. Instead, they have stressed that not only will they stick to the agreement, but they will also work to sustain it in the face of increased US pressure.

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said on Monday that European countries collaborating with the United States’ policies are accomplices in crimes committed by the US, the Israeli regime and reactionary states in the region.

“Any collaboration of some European countries with policies of [US President Donald] Trump’s administration will have negative impacts on long-term relations with our country,” Shamkhani said in a meeting with British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt in Tehran.

Europeans firm to keep JCPOA in place: Fico

The Italian parliamentarian, for his part, said the US pullout from the landmark nuclear deal has caused problems but European countries, including Italy, would make their utmost efforts to preserve the outcomes of the JCPOA.

Fico also pointed to the good relations between Tehran and Rome and said Iran is a leading regional and international player.

Iran, Malta FMs discuss bilateral, regional issues

Also on Friday, Zarif met with Malta’s Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela in Rome.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) and his Maltese counterpart Carmelo Abela meet in Rome on November 23, 2018. (Photo by IRNA)

 

The top Iranian and Maltese diplomats discussed the latest developments about the JCPOA, mutual relations and regional issues, particularly the Yemeni and Syrian crises.

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