EU remains committed to Iran nuclear deal as key security element: Spokesperson

A spokesman for the European Union says the bloc remains committed to implementing a landmark nuclear deal Iran signed with major world powers in 2015 in order to observe international agreements and respect EU’s shared international security.

The spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Peter Stano, made the remarks in an interview with New Europe on Friday, in response to a question about Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"The Iran nuclear deal, which was unanimously endorsed by the UN Security Council [Resolution 2231], is a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture and contributes to the security of the region, for Europe and beyond," Stano said.

"The EU remains committed to implementing the JCPOA as a matter of respecting international agreements and of our shared international security,” he added.

He emphasized that based on the deal, the Joint Commission of the JCPOA is the only relevant forum for dialog to address all issues of concern.

The EU spokesman's remarks came as the United States is trying to invoke the snapback mechanism in the multilateral nuclear agreement despite its withdrawal from the accord in May 2018.

US in no position to invoke JCPOA snapback mechanism to reinstate UN Iran sanctions: EU

The EU says the US is not in a position to force the reinstatement of UN sanctions on Iran via the nuclear deal

The United States’ most prominent Western allies have refused to fall into step with the push, which follows Washington’s humiliating defeat in securing an extension of the UN arms embargo against Iran at the UNSC.

Only the Dominican Republic voted ‘yes’ to Washington’s resolution calling for the extension of the embargo beyond October 18.

The president of the Security Council on August 25 dismissed attempts by the US to reinstate all UN sanctions against Iran due to a lack of consensus in the 15-member body.

UNSC says 'not in position' to take more action to return all sanctions against Iran

The UN Security Council dismisses attempts by the US to reinstate all UN sanctions against Iran due to a lack of consensus in the 15-member body over such a move.

Indonesia’s UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, the Security Council’s president for August, said the body was “not in the position to take further action” on the new US push to trigger a ‘snapback’ of all UN sanctions on Iran due to a lack of consensus among the member states to take such measures.

In a statement on August 20, EU High Representative and Coordinator of the JCPOA Joint Commission Josep Borrell criticized the US for planning to snap back sanctions on Iran and vowed to "do everything possible to ensure the preservation and full implementation of the JCPOA by all."

Borrell said he has repeatedly announced that the US unilaterally ceased participation in the JCPOA and has subsequently not participated in any JCPOA-related activities.

"It (the US) cannot, therefore, be considered to be a JCPOA participant State for the purposes of possible sanctions snapback foreseen by the resolution," he pointed out.

The EU official said the JCPOA remains a "key pillar of the global non-proliferation architecture, contributing to regional security."

In a post on his Twitter account on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the United States has once again threatened to impose restrictions on ‘anyone and any entity’ dealing with the Islamic Republic despite being dismissed by the United Nations Security Council three times.

US obviously does not understand law or UN after thrice being defeated: Iran FM

Zarif reminded US authorities that they ‘divorced’ the JCPOA.

“After thrice being rejected by SC, US now threatens ‘sanctioning anyone & any entity that comes between US’ & ‘its snapback’,” Zarif said.

JCPOA Joint Commission meeting will convene on September 1

Elsewhere in his interview, Stano said a meeting of the Joint Commission of the JCPOA will be held in Vienna on September 1.

He added that the meeting would be chaired by European External Action Service Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid and representatives from the remaining parties to the nuclear deal -- France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, China and Iran.

Read more:

• Despite its intl. obligation, US still violates UNSC Resolution 2231: Iran diplomat
• EU's Borrell vows full work to preserve Iran nuclear deal

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