Mogherini fears Iran nuclear deal might collapse

BRUSSELS, June 17 (KUNA) -- European Union High Commissioner Federica Mogherini said Monday that so far Iran has been compliant with its nuclear commitments but admitted that it is becoming increasingly difficult to implement the Iranian nuclear deal.
"Our assessment on the implementation of the nuclear deal has never been, and is not and never will be based on statements, but on the technical and factual evaluation that the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) makes," she told a news conference at the end of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg this afternoon.
"So far Iran has been compliant with its nuclear commitments and we strongly hope and expect and encourage that Iran continues to comply with its commitments on the JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal).
"If the IAEA assessments and reports change then we will assess the situation," she said.
Mogherini was commenting on reports from Tehran, which said that Iran will cross on 27 June the limit on its stockpile of enriched uranium that was set under the 2015 nuclear deal.
"Our interest is to keep the nuclear deal in place. It is not an easy exercise. During the last year it has become increasingly difficult for all to keep the nuclear deal fully implemented.
"Our focus is not to enter in a blame game or giving responsibility of the collapse of the deal that might come," she stated.
Commenting on last week's attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, Mogherini said she found a "strong element of concern among the EU foreign ministers for the risk of miscalculation or unintentional escalations that could occur.
"Beyond the assessment of the responsibilities, the call is for maximum restraint and de-escalation," she said.
"We believe that the work on many of the actions that Iran took and is undertaking in the region are one of the elements that we discuss the most, and not one of the easiest elements that we discuss with our Iranian counterparts, in particular their attitude in Syria, in Yemen but also interference otherwise in other places," said Mogherini.
"We definitely do not believe this to be positive but on the contrary," she added. (end) nk.mb