TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the conclusion of the first transaction via INSTEX – a payment channel that the three EU signatories to the JCPOA have set up to maintain trade with Iran – was a positive, but insufficient measure.

In a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday evening, Rouhani described as “positive but insufficient” the first steps that the three European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal have taken to bring the INSTEX into operation.

“This path (INSTEX mechanism) should not be confined to the medical commodities and foodstuff alone, and we must be able to use it to supply all of our country’s demands,” he underlined.

The president also wished the French government and nation as well as people of the entire world success in the battle with the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing, “All countries and governments must keep in mind that they could not get through such a delicate situation without assistance, cooperation and using the experiences of one another.”

He also noted that the foreign sanctions have made the fight against coronavirus more difficult for Iran compared to other nations.

“The US government not only has breached international regulations by imposing illegal sanctions against Iran, but also is violating the health regulations ratified by the World Health Organization in 2005 with its measures under the current circumstances,” Rouhani deplored.

He also welcomed the UN Secretary-General’s proposal for a global halt in armed clashes amid the outbreak of the coronavirus and expressed hope that such a ceasefire would apply to the economic war against Iran as well.

“We expect the friendly countries to pressurize the US into lifting the cruel and unilateral sanctions under such conditions,” he stated.

The president further reiterated that Iran is prepared to fully honor its JCPOA commitments as soon as all of the sanctions are removed. “The removal of the sanctions and honoring the commitments by Europe are a necessity, and in such special conditions today it has become more significant.”

Pointing to Iran’s initiative for regional peace, known as the Hormuz Peace Endeavour, Rouhani said cooperation among regional countries is the only way to ensure the security of the Oman Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran does not welcome any tensions in the region, and has always made and will make efforts for the establishment of sustainable peace and stability in the region,” Rouhani underlined.

He also stressed the need to respect the sovereignty of regional countries. “Accordingly, we deem that some recent American moves in Iraq are a dangerous measure and to the detriment of the security of that country (Iraq) and the region.”

For his part, Macron briefed Rouhani on the outbreak of coronavirus in France and other European states and the efforts to contain the disease, saying, “The world is experiencing a tough situation, and I hope that all countries in the world would be able to weather such difficult conditions in cooperation with each other.”

Macron also voiced France’s willingness to promote cooperation with Iran in all fields, pointed to the positive steps for starting to use the INSTEX, and expressed hope that the financial mechanism would increase the transactions between Iran and Europe and facilitate the financial cooperation between them, according to IFP.

He also highlighted Iran’s major and constructive role in the region and emphasized the necessity of enhancing cooperation and bilateral, regional and international relations between Tehran and Paris in order to promote peace, stability, and security in the region.