Iran expects West’s commitment to JCPOA: Larijani

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani says Iran expects the Western side to Iran’s nuclear agreement to abide by its commitments.

Larijani made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende in Tehran on Wednesday.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran entered the nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 group with full sincerity to help find a fair and logical solution” to the Western dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program, Larijani said.

He added that last year’s conclusion of the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), proved Iran’s sincere policy.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Larijani touched on the issue of terrorism and extremism, saying Iran and European countries can cooperate in the fight against the two menaces.

“We are willing to cooperate with countries like Norway to help restore regional stability and contribute to the settlement of dangerous crises by confronting terrorist groups,” he said.

The top parliamentarian official said that “arbitrary” actions by certain regional countries have undermined stability and peace in the region.

Describing terrorism as an “evil phenomenon” for the region and the entire world, Larijani called for a collective campaign against the scourge.

The Norwegian foreign minister also praised Iran’s commitment to the JCPOA, saying his country backs the full implementation of the nuclear agreement.

He also praised Iran’s anti-terror bid and expressed high optimism that Tehran would continue with its campaign to uproot terrorism and Daesh and restore stability to Iraq.

Also on Wednesday, Norway’s foreign minister met with Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.

During the meeting, the Iranian official said terrorism will not be eradicated without addressing its root causes and sponsors.

Shamkhani said certain countries’ use of terrorism against other governments led to the rise of Daesh and other terrorist groups.

Cutting intelligence and financial support for terrorist groups, carrying out fundamental measures like respecting the will of the people, and providing security through regional cooperation are the key to restoring peace and stability, the Iranian official noted.

Brende, for his part, described Iran as a country “playing a constructive role” in helping stability in Iraq and Syria.

The Norwegian official also hailed the lifting of sanctions against Iran in the wake of the JCPOA and expressed his country’s readiness to expand ties with Iran.

On January 16, Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia – plus Germany started implementing the JCPOA that they had clinched on July 14, 2015.

Under the nuclear agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in return for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic.