He made the remarks Wednesday in a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron’s top diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonne in Tehran.

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

Criticizing the inaction of European countries to stand against U.S. constructive policies, Shamkhani said, “given Europe’s failure to use the one-year-long opportunity, during which Iran unilaterally implemented its commitments, [now] the country’s firm decision is to comply with commitments in proportion to other parties’ measures. The period of unilateral implementation of commitments has ended.”

“We seriously demand a resolute move by the Europeans regarding the JCPOA and their time has come to an end,” he said.

He then referred to Iran’s decision to scale down its commitments under the nuclear deal and said this is an unchangeable strategy by the Islamic Republic.

“We will continue reducing our commitments within articles 26 and 36 of the Iran nuclear deal,” he said.

Introducing gradual cuts on JCPOA is an ‘unchangeable strategy of Iran’, he said, noting that this measure will continue, according to paragraphs 26 and 36 of the deal, as far as Iran’s legal demands are met.

“Today, America is holding EU’s independence hostage. European countries require to stand against U.S. unilateralism in a bid to defend their identity and independence,” said the Iranian official.

Bomme, for his part, said that French President Emmanuel Macron is looking for joint initiatives to secure a ceasefire in Washington’s economic war against the Islamic Republic, his top diplomatic advisor said in Tehran.

According to Bonne, Macron believes such a ceasefire will lead to a de-escalation of growing tensions in the region.

Bonne underlined that he is visiting Iran neither as a mediator nor as a carrier of a message from the US.

France is fully aware how resilient Iran has been against various pressures and sanctions over the past 40 years, he said, adding that despite the US willingness and interest, Iran’s influence and power in the region has increased significantly over the past 20 years.

Macron’s senior diplomatic advisor then added given the undeniable regional influence of Iran, Paris is interested in holding talks and expanding cooperation with the country to settle the current crises in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed mutual and regional ties and mechanisms to fulfil Europeans’ pledges under the JCPOA.