Mogherini: EU committed to Iran nuclear deal

BRUSSELS, May 22 (KUNA) -- The European Union (EU) has reiterated its known position of remaining committed to the continued full and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as long as Iran abides by all its nuclear-related commitments.
"We have listened attentively to today's speech by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, addressed not only to the audiences in Iran, but also to all those in support of the JCPOA," EU High Representative Federica Mogherini said in a statement late Monday.
Last night in Washington, Pompeo threatened "the strongest sanctions in history" against Iran if it does not change course, and issued a list of demands he wants to be included in a new nuclear treaty with Tehran.
A week ago, US President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal created under former President Barack Obama. Sanctions that had been lifted due to the deal are scheduled to go back into effect.
"Pompeo's speech has "not demonstrated how walking away from the JCPOA has made or will make the region safer from the threat of nuclear proliferation or how it puts us in a better position to influence Iran's conduct in areas outside the scope of JCPOA. There is no alternative to the JCPOA," she noted.
The Iran nuclear deal and continuing support for it are major achievements of international diplomacy, ensuring that Iran's nuclear capacities remain exclusively for peaceful purposes, said the EU foreign policy chief.
The IAEA has confirmed already 10 times that Iran implemented and continues to implement all its nuclear related commitments, and has inter alia stated that it was granted all the access requests needed to fulfil its mandate, she noted.
"This deal belongs to the international community, having been endorsed by the United Nations Security Council. The international community expects all sides to keep the commitments they made more than two years ago," she pointed out.
"The normalisation of trade and economic relations with Iran constitutes an essential part of the agreement, which should be upheld by the international community.
"The JCPOA was never designed to address all issues in the relationship with Iran. Concerns regarding Iran's regional role, terrorism and non-respect for human rights are regularly raised by the EU with Tehran and indeed the EU has in place sanctions seeking to pressure Iran to change its behaviour," Mogherini pointed out. (end) nk.hb