Mogherini: EU resolved to preserve JCPOA, protect investment after US pullout

May 28, 2018 - EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Monday the European Union is “determined” to keep the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran alive in the wake of the US withdrawal from the international agreement.  

"Today on the agenda of the foreign ministers, we have first and foremost our work to preserve the nuclear deal with Iran," Mogherini told reporters as she arrived at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels ahead of a meeting of the EU foreign ministers.

She added: "You know that we have been acting already at European Union level to put in place a set of measures to make sure that the nuclear agreement is preserved and the economic investments from the European side, but also from other sides in the world, are protected."

She noted that the EU foreign ministers plan to hold talks on the issue so that they would be able to "contribute and compliment on their side to the measures that we have put in place on the level of the European Union."

The US pulled out of the pact, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), earlier this month and wants to impose tough sanctions on Iran, while European powers and Tehran say they are committed to keep working together to save the deal.

Mogherini said the EU seeks to protect its strategic and economic interests in Iran.

“Nobody believes it is going to be an easy exercise but we are determined to do it," she said.

The EU’s top diplomat said the bloc wants to clarify that “the European Union decisions are taken by Europeans, are not exposed to decisions taken elsewhere.”

“We have the instruments to accompany and protect our economic investments, especially when they match our security interests,” she pointed out. 

Mogherini also stressed that the latest report of the International Atomic Energy Agency says that Iran continues to stay below the maximum level to which it can enrich uranium and appears to be fulfilling other obligations.

After the US withdrawal, five signatories to the JCPOA and Iran met in Vienna on May 25 at Iran's request and emphasized the importance of working together to explore ways to save the accord.

The parties indicated more confidence was built after the meeting in the capital of Austria.

It was the first meeting between China, Russia, France, Britain, Germany and Iran in a bid to save the Iran nuclear deal.

Source: http://www.iran-daily.com/News/215853.html