The two sides discussed a broad range of issues such as bilateral ties, and regional and international developments, while also reviewing the roadmap of bilateral relationship for the next year.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over positive effects of using national currencies and also over the increased volume of trades between the two countries in the past year, highlighting the need to further expand ties in areas such as trade, transportation, science and technology, industry, communications, banking, insurance, and investment.

Elsewhere in the meeting, Araghchi said that the issue of Kashmir should be resolved through peaceful approaches and dialogue between India and Pakistan. Pointing to the history of the Iranian nation’s relations with Muslims in Kashmir, he hoped that rights of these Muslims would be respected and the imposed limitations on them would be removed.

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He warned that the US excessive use of sanctions is turning to an ever-increasing threat to the country’s own economy.

Answering a question about the remarks of the recent French President and those of Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying “Europe should either purchase Iran’s oil, or provide us with a $15 billion letter of credit, which can in fact be considered as pre-purchasing our oil,” Zarif said that “we hold talks with Europeans because from among the parties remained in JCPOA, we have good relations with China and Russia and we will continue them but the Europeans have not been successful in preserving their economic ties with us and fulfill their commitments.”

He added that it is an understandable but a misfortune that the Europeans need to have the US permission for taking any measure but in fact the US have no legal power to stop Europeans from fulfilling their commitments.

Describing about Iran’s decision of scaling back its JCPOA commitments, the Iranian FM said “in President Rouhani’s letter to the UN security council and that of mine to Mrs. Mogherini on May 8, 2019, we had highlighted that Iran has met its commitments under the section 36 of the nuclear deal and that we will commence reducing measures in a framework of a pre-planned program; however, we have always said that we are open to conducting negotiations at any given time.”

He noted that Iran tries to preserve the JCPOA adding that “in case the other side modifies its measures and returns to JCPOA, Iran will go back to the starting point before reducing commitments.”

Speaking about his visit to Bangladesh, Zarif evaluated his meetings with the country’s PM and FM as fruitful announcing that the pivotal point of the mutual talks revolved around issues of the Islamic world and the necessity of cooperation among Muslim countries.

He noted that bilateral financial transactions between Iran and Bangladesh is possible without using US dollar and the two sides are intended to expand ties in technological sector an swap of goods.

The United States has imposed new sanctions on Iran this time to target its space program.

The Trump administration introduced the illegal sanctions Tuesday as Washington continued its campaign of “maximum pressure” against Tehran and, seeking rise in tensions in the region.

The country’s space program and two of its research institutes have been sanctioned, according to hawkish Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“The United States will not allow Iran to use its space launch program as cover to advance its ballistic missile programs. Iran’s August 29 attempt to launch a space launch vehicle underscores the urgency of the threat,” claimed the former CIA chief.

He further alleged that “these designations should serve as a warning to the international scientific community that collaborating with Iran’s space program could contribute to Tehran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon delivery system.”

Washington claims that the measure is aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Tehran has maintained that its nuclear and space programs are strictly for peaceful purposes.

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“Iran has repeatedly stated that it will resume full implementation of its commitments to the JCPOA only when it can freely sell its oil and fully access its oil revenues. France’s initiative is exactly about this issue,” Araghchi said.

“Europe should either purchase Iran’s oil, or provide us with a $15 billion letter of credit, which can in fact be considered as pre-purchasing our oil,” he added.

“After receiving the $15 billion package, Iran is ready to hold talks with the remaining signatories to the JCPOA; but the truth is that there are still serious differences in opinions between the two sides on the agenda of these talks,” he said.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not, under any circumstances, negotiate with any side over its red lines,” Araghchi stressed.

The Iranian diplomat then voiced doubt that European countries could take an effective measure to live up to their commitments before September 7, which is Iran’s deadline for taking the third step in scaling down commitments to the JCPOA. He said Iran would thus take the step on the exact date.

As a first step, Iran increased its enriched uranium stockpile to beyond the 300 kilograms set by the JCPOA. Next, it announced that it had begun enriching uranium to purity rates beyond the JCPOA-limit of 3.76 percent.

Araghchi then dismissed rumors over the possibility of a meeting between President Rouhani and President Trump on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting, saying “such a meeting is by no means on agenda. As Mr. Rouhani has stressed, not only there is no chance for a bilateral meeting with Trump, but also, there won’t be any grounds for the presence of US in Iran’s talks with the remaining sides to the JCPOA as long as Washington has not returned to the deal and lifted all nuclear sanctions against Iran.”

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While in Ljubljana, the Iranian diplomat will also deliver a speech in an international forum. He is expected to hold talks with the participating officials of other countries on the sidelines of the event.

Araghchi visited Paris on Monday and held long intensive talks in detail about the possible scenarios for advancing the initiative put forward by the presidents of Iran and France for salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal.

The two sides agreed to continue their intensive work on these scenarios. They also agreed to increase their consultations with other relevant parties and to continue regular dialogues with each other at various levels.

The talks were held behind closed doors without the presence of reporters.

The Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and a representative from Oil Ministry are accompanying Araghchi in this trip.

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The talks, which lasted more than ten hours, discussed in detail the possible scenarios for advancing the initiative put forward by the presidents of Iran and France.

The way to meet Iran’s demands and secure its interests incorporated in the JCPOA were the focus of today’s talks, according to the website of Iranian state TV IRIB.

The two sides greed to continue their intensive work on these scenarios. They also agreed to increase their consultations with other relevant parties and to continue regular dialogues with each other at various levels.

The talks were held behind closed doors without the presence of reporters.

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French President Macron is leading a European effort to salvage the JCPOA after the United States unilaterally pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and imposed sanctions on Tehran. Macron has held extensive phone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and there has been exchanges of diplomats between the two countries in recent weeks. Deputy Foreign Minister Araghchi is now in Paris heading a politico-economic delegation to further discuss the situation around JCPOA.

“The visit of Mr. Araghchi and his accompanying delegation from Oil Ministry and Central Bank to Paris is aimed at discussing ways that Europeans would implement their commitments under JCPOA. As mentioned before, Iran’s oil should be bought and its revenue should be delivered to Iran,” Rabiei added.

Iran announced in May 2019 that it is reducing commitments to the JCPOA according to the paragraphs 26 and 36 of the deal, asking European countries to stop their mere verbal support and implement practical measures that would shield Iran’s economy from damages of US sanctions. Tehran has so far taken two steps in reducing commitments and the probable third one may come on Saturday. Iran says that all its measures are reversible as soon as its legal demands are met.

“If Iran is satisfied with European measures, we will not take the third step, rather, we will reconsider some issues. But Tehran will make the next step if it doesn’t feel satisfaction [with EU measures],” Rabiei highlighted.

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The multilateral nuclear deal has been in jeopardy since US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the JCPOA in May last year and stepped up sanctions on the Islamic Republic in what he called ‘maximum pressure’ campaign.

Under the deal, signed between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany, Tehran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions.

Since May, Iran has introduced cuts to its nuclear commitments twice in compliance with articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA. Iran says these measures will be reversible as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the Iranian economy from unilateral US sanctions, which were imposed last year when Washington withdrew from the nuclear deal.

“What we have proposed to Europeans is to either buy our oil for their companies through obtaining US’s permission or if they cannot do this, provide the Islamic Republic with credit lines in proportion to the same amount of our oil sales. Our return to full JCPOA implementation is impossible without these measures,” Araghchi added in the interview.

Pointing to France’s initiative to salvage the deal in G7 summit in Biarritz, he highlighted that “the American side has shown some flexibility in issuing waivers for Iran’s oil sales.”

“This is the very split that has opened up in America’s maximum pressure policy and the very achievement that Iran is obtaining in its maximum resistance policy,” he highlighted

“There will be strenuous and complicated negotiations ahead of us for arriving at a specific formula,” to salvage the JCPOA, the deputy FM added.

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“Mr. Araghchi stressed that the ministry is making every effort to foil the United States’ plots in the region,” he added.

According to the lawmaker, topics including the ways to continue economic ties with other countries and enhancing the oil sales, as well as Iran’s nuclear deal, were also discussed during the meeting.

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In the meeting, the two sides had plain talks about bilateral relations, the ways to expand the ties, the developments in relation to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as well as the situation in the Persian Gulf region and the West Asia.

The two deputy ministers also highlighted the significance of Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s recent visit to Tehran, and expressed willingness to continue high-profile political consultations.

The Japanese delegation has earlier held a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday.

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The Iranian diplomat expressed doubts about the US intentions in Afghanistan, reiterating the need for the adoption of regional approaches and for the active partnership of the neighboring states for the advancement of the peace process with the Afghan government having the pivotal role and being involved.

The diplomat also rejected the policy of elimination and unilateralism in the peace process and described consultations with all Afghan political factions as the condition for achieving sustainable peace.

The two sides also discussed the prospect of future political developments, particularly the presidential election and the peace process in that country.

Araghchi also voiced support for the coming presidential election of Afghanistan in September, highlighted the helpful assistance that the UNAMA’s potential could provide for the Afghan government in holding a transparent and fair presidential election, and called on the United Nations to play an active role in this regard.

The two sides also talked about the presence of ISIL terrorists in Afghanistan as a threat to peace and security in the region, and about the necessity for cooperation in the fight against the terrorist group.

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