Europe’s Efforts to Facilitate Banking Ties with Iran Not Sufficient
Europe’s Efforts to Facilitate Banking Ties with Iran Not Sufficient

TEHRAN  – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for American and European Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi said European countries have not made enough efforts to persuade their banks work with Iran. Addressing a conference in the French capital of Paris on Tuesday, Takht Ravanchi stressed the need for the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, known […]

TEHRAN  – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for American and European Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi said European countries have not made enough efforts to persuade their banks work with Iran.

Addressing a conference in the French capital of Paris on Tuesday, Takht Ravanchi stressed the need for the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to clarify their position about any possible action by the US to withdraw from the agreement.

The Europeans should make it clear what their reaction would be if Washington leaves the JCPOA and imposes fresh sanctions against Tehran, he said.

The Iranian diplomat further criticized the European countries for not having made sufficient efforts to encourage their banks to cooperate with Iran.

Takht Ravanchi also said Iran will not be the first party to withdraw from the deal, adding that the Islamic Republic is “prepared for any scenario”.

Concerns have been growing in recent weeks that the US administration may unilaterally scrap the nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France, and Germany).

In a major confrontational stance against Iran on October 13, US President Donald Trump refused to certify the multilateral deal on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.

Speaking from the White House, Trump said he will choose not to certify that Tehran is complying with the agreement.

The 159-page nuclear agreement was reached in July 2015 and came into force in January 2016.

Since the historic deal was signed in Vienna, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly confirmed the Islamic Republic’s compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA, but some other parties, especially the US, have failed to live up to their undertakings.