P5+1 Must Honor JCPOA Obligations, Says Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the P5+1 group of countries need to fulfill their obligations stipulated in the nuclear agreement they reached with Iran last year.

In a meeting with the visiting President of the Belgian Senate, Christine Defraigne, in Tehran on Saturday, Zarif reaffirmed Iran’s full commitment to the nuclear agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

 

“The P5+1 [negotiations] partners are expected to carry out their responsibilities vis-à-vis the precise fulfillment of their obligations,” the Iranian minister said. 

He also expressed hope that European countries would take “tangible and genuine” steps to encourage banking and financial relations with Iran to promote ties between Tehran and Brussels.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia – plus Germany started implementing the JCPOA on January 16. The two sides signed the agreement on July 14, 2015 following two and a half years of intensive talks.

Under the JCPOA, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the Security Council and the US would be lifted. Iran has, in return, put some limitations on its nuclear activities.

Belgium keen to boost Iran ties – Defraigne

The president of the Belgian Senate said Tehran and Brussels are developing cooperation, particularly in political, economic and parliamentary sectors.

She added that her country is keen to hold more consultation with Iran, mostly in parliamentary fields, in a bid to strengthen all-out relations.

She also commended Iran’s leading role in establishing peace and stability in the region.

Global action key to fight against terror, says Rafsanjani

On the other hand, Chairman of Iran’s Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani says terrorists pose a “global threat,” urging a fundamental international fight against terrorism.

In a meeting with the visiting President of the Belgian Senate, Christine Defraigne, in Tehran on Saturday, Rafsanjani warned against the access of terrorist groups to chemical weapons.

“These terrorist groups are present in some areas in Africa and Asia and it is not unlikely that they also strengthen their presence and forces in industrialized countries,” the senior Iranian cleric said.

He added that Iran has been a victim of terrorism and said the country currently enjoys security due to its combat against terrorist groups.

Rafsanjani noted that Iran is ready to share its experience on the campaign against terrorism with the international community.

The Iranian cleric also emphasized the importance of improving relations between Iran and Belgium given their great capacities.

“Iran has no limitation to cooperate with member states of the European Union, particularly Belgium,” he said.

Necessity for enhanced Tehran-Brussels ties

The Belgian president of the Senate, for her part, said Tehran and Brussels must bolster relations in all fields.

Defraigne said signatories to international agreements must remain faithful to their commitments. Belgium, she added, would ask the United States to fulfill its obligations under the nuclear agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in July 2015.

 

She said the JCPOA should yield tangible results, adding that Belgium would make efforts to remove obstacles in the way of the JCPOA implementation.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia – plus Germany started implementing the JCPOA on January 16. The two sides signed the agreement on July 14, 2015 following two and a half years of intensive talks.

Under the JCPOA, all nuclear – related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the UN Security Council and the US would be lifted. Iran has, in return, put some limitations on its nuclear activities.

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