Iran urges more ‘practical steps’ to protect N-deal

Tehran, May 21: Political sympathy from Europe with Iran’s nuclear deal is “not enough” and they should take more “practical steps” to guarantee Iran’s economic interests from the deal, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said here on Sunday. “With the exit of the US from the nuclear agreement, expectations from the the European Union (EU) to preserve the achievements of the deal are high,” Zarif made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting EU’s Energy Chief Miguel Arias Canete, Xinhua reported. “Under the current circumstances, political support of Europe to the nuke deal is not sufficient,” Zarif said. “EU should take further practical steps to continue economic cooperation with Iran,” he said, adding that “EU should boost investments in Iran.”

Canete said Saturday that “we will have to ask for (sanction) waivers, for carve-outs for the (European) companies that make investments.” Besides, Salehi said that he discussed reapplying European law of “the blocking statute” with Canete on Saturday. Canete arrived in Tehran on Friday for a two-day visit to reassure Iran that the EU wants to keep open trade and cooperation with Iran despite the US decision to pull out. (IANS)