Iran's Salehi, EU's Mogherini Discuss Nuclear Deal Implementation
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in a meeting in Brussels discussed ways to remove problems in the way of full implementation of the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers.
During the meeting on Thursday, Salehi and Mogherini discussed the existing banking and financial problems hampering Western banks’ resumption of financial interaction with Iran despite the coming into force of the landmark nuclear deal, known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
In January 2016, Iran and six leading powers — the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany — started the implementation of the JCPOA reached in July 2015 when Tehran agreed to scale down its nuclear activities in return for lifting of some sanctions.
But nearly eight months into the implementation of the deal, US policy is denying the promised commitments to ease financial restrictions against Iran, as risk-averse western banks say they are wary of working with Iranian institutions and individuals due to concerns over running afoul of US sanctions.
Banks are particularly worried about US primary sanctions, which remain in place under JCPOA, as the deal only lifted nuclear-related measures, leaving in place a host of mainly US sanctions related to non-nuclear issues.
The US Treasury Department, which is responsible for enforcing sanctions, has so far ignored request by Banks and other companies for a written clarification giving them assurances that they won't be punished for legitimate business with Iran.
Back in March, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said Americans have yet to fulfill what they were supposed to do as per the nuclear deal.
Iran still has problems in its banking transactions or in restoring its frozen assets, because Western countries and those involved in such processes are afraid of Americans, the Leader said at the time, criticizing the US for its moves to prevent Iran from taking advantage of the sanctions removal.
