EU backs Iran deal, seeks execution of pledges

BRUSSELS

The EU High Representative Federica Mogherini on Monday reiterated support to the Iran nuclear deal and sought full implementation of the action plan.

Even as the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo decided to arrive in Brussels on an unscheduled visit, the EU official said the 28-nation European grouping stands by the full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) – agreed by the world powers in 2015. The action plan envisaged Iran to limit it nuclear activity to peaceful and civilian uses in return lifting of economic sanctions.

“The EU continues to fully support the nuclear deal with Iran and calls for its full implementation,” she said in a news conference, ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.

The agreement, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), was signed between Iran and six other countries --Russia, China, France, the U.K., the U.S., and Germany.

On the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State, Mogherini said there were no precise plans of a meeting for the moment.

“We will be here all day with a busy agenda so we will see during the day how and if we manage to arrange a meeting. There are no precise plans for the moment,” she said.

Pompeo rescheduled his meetings with Russian leaders and decided to head for Brussels, to hold talks with European officials on Iran and other issues.

Mogherini announced that the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the U.K. will discuss ways to fully implement the commitments agreed in the JCPOA.

“On some of the issues, we have serious differences and divergences with Iran,” Mogherini added.

Earlier in a joint statement by the High Representative of the EU and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the U.K. while rejecting any ultimatum issued by Iran, regretted the re-imposition of sanctions by the U.S., following withdrawal from the JCPoA.

“We are determined to continue pursuing efforts to enable the continuation of legitimate trade with Iran, including through the operationalization of the special purpose vehicle INSTEX,” the statement said.

Among other concerns the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday will also discuss issues related to Libya, and Sahel.

On the Libyan crisis, Mogherini said that she will have a bilateral meeting with the Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Al-Serraj.

Last month the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by a retired general Khalifa Haftar launched a wide-ranging campaign to capture Tripoli. After a month of sporadic fighting on the city’s outskirts Haftar's forces have so far failed to achieve their objective.

They have, however, succeeded in capturing several strategic towns and cities in the vicinity of the capital.

The European ministers are also meeting a handful of African states, as part of a broader EU-backed security and military-led operation in the Sahel.

“For the European Union it is a top priority to stabilize situation as much as possible, supporting our partners in the Sahel and, in general terms, through a good cooperation with the African Union,” she added.