Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says although Europeans are “serious” in their attempt to save the nuclear deal with Iran, yet Tehran “doubts their ability” to do so.
Speaking in an interview with Iran’s state TV Sunday night, May 27, Araqchi warned that “Iran might pull out of the JCPOA if we do not reach a conclusion at the end of our negotiations with the European signatories” of the nuclear deal, also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Addressing the UK, France and Germany, Araqchi said that “they should implement the JCPOA as it is, as we won’t take even one step beyond our current commitment based on the document.”
Araqchi made the remarks after the three European states concurred with the United States criticizing Iran’s missile program and its “destabilizing measures” in the region, although they disagreed with Washington’s pullout from the deal.
Reacting to Europe’s position, Araqchi stressed, “We are not going to enter any negotiation about the missiles, the region or the future of JCPOA.”
He called on the Europeans “to offer an economic package that would secure Iran’s interests, while Iran is waiting to see if Europe can address technical and political challenges” about European private sector activities in Iran following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say about Iran’s domestic and foreign policies, has recently set some far-fetched conditions for continued Iranian commitment to JCPOA. He called for “a UN Security Council resolution against the United States, guarantees by European banks about the continuation of trade with Iran, guaranteeing Iran’s continued oil exports, redress for promises broken in the past, and countering U.S. sanctions against Iran.”