Iran FM, Britain Foreign Secretary Discuss JCPOA, Economic Ties in Tehran

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have held talks in the Iranian capital about a landmark nuclear agreement reached between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries more than two years ago, according to Press T.V.

According to a statement by Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the top Iranian and British diplomats discussed on Saturday the implementation of the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and commitment of all signatories to the deal, whose future has been thrown into doubt by US President Donald Trump.

 Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany signed the nuclear agreement on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May on November 30 affirmed her country’s support for the nuclear agreement in the face of the US administration’s harsh rhetoric and threats to “terminate” it.

The US president delivered an anti-Iran speech on October 13, in which he said he would not continue to certify Iran’s compliance with the terms of the JCPOA, reached under his predecessor Barack Obama, and warned that he might ultimately terminate the agreement.

The statement said Zarif and Johnson also exchanged views about other matters, including economic, banking and trade relations as well as regional and international developments.

  Johnson said the JCPOA was of high significance to London and emphasized his country’s commitment to fully implement the deal, it added.

The statement noted that the top British diplomat also called for the expansion of cooperation and continued consultation with Iran.

Johnson arrived in Tehran on Saturday for an official two-day visit to meet with senior Iranian officials.

Prior to his talks with Zarif, the British foreign secretary sat down with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani. He is due to meet President Hassan Rouhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi.

R.S