Iran’s Foreign Minister in Brussels to save the nuclear agreement

Zarif will meet his counterparts from France, Great Britain and Germany. Together with China and Russia, Europe wants to limit the effects of the US decision to withdraw from the pact. Tehran writes to the UN: Washington despises international law. The role of the Kremlin as the guarantor of a renewed understanding.


Brussels (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Iranian Foreign Minister is expected today in Brussels, the final stage of a diplomatic tour promoted in response to US President Donald Trump's decision to end the nuclear agreement (JCPOA) signed in 2015.

In the heart of Europe, Mohammad Javad Zarif meet his counterparts from France, Great Britain and Germany, the European nations (as well as China and Russia) who together with Washington have signed the historic pact.

In recent days, Tehran’s head of diplomacy visited Moscow and Beijing, receiving full support for the nuclear agreement from their respective leaders. "The pact with Iran is working and we have to do everything to preserve it," said the spokesperson of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Following the choice of the White House, which received the applause of Israel and several Arab nations, the Islamic Republic declared that it was ready to resume the enrichment of uranium "on a large scale" and "without any restriction". The program will remain suspended, Zarif added, if Europe provides solid commercial guarantees, in spite of US sanctions.

"The objective of these negotiations - the Foreign Minister continued - is to seek reassurance that the interests of the Iranian nation will be defended". Among the nodes to be solved are the effects of the new sanctions imposed by Trump, which target the economic coverage of contracts and financial transactions. For European companies it will be difficult to trade with Teheran, since Washington will not allow the use of the dollar and patents for production.

Meanwhile, Zarif himself has sent a letter to the UN leadership, in which he accuses the United States of showing "total disregard for international law". In the text he recalled the "scrupulous respect" of the terms of the nuclear agreement by Teheran.

Trump's decision has restarted international diplomacy and alliances between global powers. After weeks of tension, today Europe and Russia (together with China) seem ever closer and determined to safeguard what remains of the agreement. In this sense, the Kremlin led by President Vladimir Putin could play a key role, ensuring that Teheran does not resume the program for the production of atomic weapons.