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| Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif |
Iran said on Sunday Europe was in no position to criticise Tehran for its military capabilities and it called on European leaders to normalise trade ties with the Islamic Republic despite U.S. sanctions, or face consequences.
President Donald Trump last year withdrew the United States from world powersโ 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sweeping sanctions. Trump condemned the accord, signed by his predecessor Barack Obama, as flawed for not being permanent and for not covering Iranโs ballistic missile programme or its role in conflicts around the Middle East.
The west European signatories to the deal โ France, Britain and Germany โ share the same concerns as the United States over Iranโs ballistic missile development and regional activities.
However, they have defended the nuclear accord as the best way to limit Iranโs enrichment of uranium, a potential pathway to nuclear weapons, and a basis for future negotiations on a broader palette of security and other longstanding disputes.
โEuropeans are not in a position to criticise Iran for issues outside the JCPOA,โ Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by the state broadcaster, using the acronym for the nuclear deal.
โThe Europeans and other signatories of the JCPOA should normalise economic ties with IranโฆWe will halt our commitments or will take action in accordance with their measures.โ
Last month, Iran scaled back some commitments under the 2015 deal and warned that in 60 days it would resume enriching uranium to a higher degree than that permitted by the accord if the Europeans failed to shield it against the U.S. sanctions, which aim to cripple its oil-dependent economy.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas will visit Iran this week to explore options for preserving the fraying nuclear non-proliferation pact.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Sunday criticised French President Emmanuel Macron for saying last week in a meeting with Trump that they shared the same objectives on Iran.
Macron said France wanted to make sure Tehran will not get nuclear weapons: โWe had an accord until 2025 and we want to go further and have full certainty in the long runโฆ (Then) reduce ballistic activity and contain Iran regionally.โ
Larijani was quoted as saying by state media: โThe recent remarks by the French president in a meeting with Trump were shameful and ineptโฆMacronโs comments did not match what he has been telling our presidentโฆin their meetings and on the phone.โ
Iran insists its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful, and has repeatedly refused to discuss its missile programme.
Tehran unveiled on Sunday a new โdomestically-producedโ air defence system with the capability to trace six targets โ including fighetr jets, bombers and drones at the same time and destroy them with missiles.
โIran will increase its military capabilities to protect its national security and interests, and it will not ask permission from anyone on this matter,โ Defence Minister Amir Hatami said at an unveiling ceremony for the system.
REUTERS
