Central Asia helping full implementation of Iran nuclear deal: EU's Mogherini

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini says Central Asian countries are helping to ensure the full and effective implementation of a multilateral 2015 nuclear agreement.

Addressing a press conference  following the EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Mogherini once again reiterated the EU's commitment to the landmark nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.

Mogherini thanked EU ministers for supporting the nuclear agreement, which she said was "a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture and crucial for the security of the region, for Europe, for Central Asia and beyond."

The senior EU official emphasized that efforts by Central Asian countries were "also helping enormously to ensure that this implementation continues fully and effectively."

Mogherini said foreign ministers of all the five Central Asian countries -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan -- confirmed this issue.

In May, US President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the Iran nuclear deal, reached between Iran and six major powers -- the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, and decided to re-impose unilateral sanctions against Tehran.

Under the deal, Tehran agreed to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced the re-imposition of the “toughest” sanctions ever against Iran's banking and energy sectors with the aim of cutting off the country's oil sales and crucial exports.

A first round of American sanctions took effect in August, targeting Iran's access to the US dollar, metals trading, coal, industrial software, and auto sector.

The US administration had been hoping to get the other parties to the deal with Iran to likewise scrap the deal. Instead, they have stressed that not only will they stick to the agreement, but they will also work to sustain it in the face of increased US pressure.

Read more:

• US bullying will harm international system: Iran FM
• EU, Asia leaders call for lifting sanctions on Iran
• Iran has devised various mechanisms to counter US sanctions: Diplomat
• US sanctions at odds with Europe sovereignty, credibility: Iran diplomat

In their joint communiqué, foreign ministers of the EU and Central Asia welcomed Iran’s "continued full and effective implementation of its nuclear-related commitments" under the JCPOA, as verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

PressTV-IAEA: Iran respecting commitments under nuclear deal

The UN atomic watchdog reports that Iran has remained compliant with the 2015 nuclear deal, over three months after the US stopped fulfilling its side of the bargain.

The participants stressed the importance of the preservation of all aspects of the nuclear accord, including "sanctions lifting and the consequences arising from it."

They emphasized that the JCPOA was a "significant diplomatic achievement," which had been endorsed unanimously by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231.

Read more:

• Iran complying with JCPOA commitment despite US sanctions: IAEA
• Sanctions will fail to hinder Iran's progress: AEOI chief
• Iran remains compliant with 2015 nuclear deal: IAEA

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