HR/VP Federica Mogherini met with the Foreign Ministers of France (Jean-Yves Le Drian), Germany (Heiko Maas), the United Kingdom (Boris Johnson) and of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Mohammad Javad Zarif) on 15 May 2018, in two separate meetings, to discuss our common lines and the work ahead of us, following the announcement made by the United States of its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal.
They recalled their commitment to the continued, full and effective implementation of the Iran nuclear deal that was unanimously endorsed by the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, as a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture and a significant diplomatic achievement.
They, together, regretted the withdrawal of the United States from the Iran nuclear deal and they recognised that the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions and the normalisation of trade and economic relations with Iran constitute essential parts of the agreement.
They stressed the commitment they all share to ensure that this will continue to be delivered and they agreed to this end to deepen their dialogue at all levels.
In particular, they undertook to launch intensive expert discussions – which have been started – with Iran, addressing the following issues with a view to arriving at practical solutions in the next few weeks:
- Maintaining and deepening economic relations with Iran;
- The continued sale of Iran’s oil and gas condensate petroleum products and petrochemicals and related transfers;
- Effective banking transactions with Iran;
- Continued sea, land, air and rail transportation relations with Iran;
- The further provision of export credit and development of special purpose vehicles in financial banking, insurance and trade areas, with the aim of facilitating economic and financial cooperation, including by offering practical support for trade and investment;
- The further development and implementation of Memoranda of Understanding and contracts between European companies and Iranian counterparts;
- Further investments in Iran;
- The protection of European Union economic operators and ensuring legal certainty; and
- Further development of a transparent, rules-based business environment in Iran.
They reaffirmed together their resolve to continue to implement the nuclear deal in all its parts, in good faith, and in a constructive atmosphere, and they agreed to continue to consult intensively at all levels and also with other remaining participants of the Joint Commission to the JCPOA.
They will also hold a Joint Commission meeting in Vienna next week at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers or Political Directors – which is the usual level at which the Joint Commission meets – and will continue to work along these lines following the good exchanges we had today, during the day and during the evening.
They also decided that EU Member States – starting with the E3 but also other Member States – will work on complementary mechanisms and measures, not only so as to go at the European Union level but also at national level to, in particular, protect the economic operators of the EU Member States. HR/VP Mogherini will also have the opportunity to also brief the Heads of State or Government of the 28 EU Member States tomorrow evening at the leaders’ dinner that we will have in Sofia. The E3 leaders will also be present and HR/VP Mogherini believes that they will also have a first exchange with the other 25 Member States.
She stressed that the implementation of the JCPOA is also on the agenda of the next Foreign Affairs Council in some 10 days from now [on 28 May 2018]. So the Foreign Ministers of all the 28 Member States will have – at the latest at that stage – the possibility of working together on common work along these and similar lines.
For more details (including Q&A with HR/VP Mogherini), please see https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/iran/44599/remarks-high-representativevice-president-federica-mogherini-press-conference-following_en
