European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Canete said Saturday that the EU would remain committed to the Iran nuclear deal, local media reported.
Canete’s remarks came at a news conference following a meeting with the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi in the capital Tehran.
The two sides met to confirm the continuation of European Commission and Automatic Exchange of Information commitments to implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), especially the three agreements related to peaceful nuclear cooperation, IRNA said quoting Canete.
The commissioner said the EU would be “committed to its obligations for full and effective continuation” of the deal, as long as Iran continued its nuclear commitment.
'We believe continuation of implementation of JCPOA, which was achieved by consensus in Resolution 2231, is so vital for development and progress in the region and world peace and security,” he added.
Canete said the JCPOA resulted from "one decade of multilateral successful diplomacy" and demonstrated the necessity for peaceful settlement of disputes and is a "key element in structure of world nuclear non-proliferation".
He added that the Europen Commission “strongly” supported Tehran's efforts for safe and responsible use of nuclear energy, including joining international conventions, IRNA said.
The official also said that a third seminar in nuclear cooperation for high-ranking officials from Iran and EU member states would be held in Brussels in late November.
Canete underlined that the EC “welcomes strengthening ties in all levels and development of these relations in upcoming months and years”.
-EU to activate ‘blocking statute’ against US sanctions
Iran’s nuclear chief Salehi said that Canete discussed the measures to be taken by the 28-member bloc in response to the recent U.S. decision to reinstate sanctions against Tehran, adding “'They are going to revive the blocking law of 1996; the issue is seriously being followed”.
The move was announced last Thursday by EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, following an informal EU leaders meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria where he said there was “a show of European unity".
“The Blocking Statute forbids EU companies from complying with the extraterritorial effects of U.S. sanctions, allows companies to recover damages arising from such sanctions from the person causing them, and nullifies the effect in the EU of any foreign court judgements based on them,” a press release by the Commission said Thursday.
“The aim is to have the measure in force before Aug. 6, 2018, when the first batch of U.S. sanctions take effect," it added.
"As long as the Iranians respect their commitments, the EU will of course stick to the agreement of which it was an architect - an agreement that was unanimously ratified by the UN Security Council and which is essential for preserving peace in the region and the World.
“But the American sanctions will not be without effect. So we have the duty, the Commission and the European Union, to do what we can to protect our European businesses, especially small to medium-sized enterprises,” he added.
Salehi said he hoped the bloc would keep its word.
“We see that Europe is trying to guard the deal, and we hope they will keep their promise. The EU's attempts show that the JCPOA is an international deal in line with the interests of Iran, the region and the world.”
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr