INSTEX should not be tied to FATF, Tehran tells EU

TEHRAN - Iran has said European countries should not link a payment mechanism that they have announced to safeguard trade with the Islamic Republic to an approval of the FATF by Tehran.

By Hanif Ghaffari

Business disorder between Europe and U.S. 

TEHRAN - The European Union remains cautious in the economic battle with the White House. U.S. President Donald Trump continues to pursue his protectionist policies in international trade system. This has led to raising concerns and serious discontent among the United States' European partners.

By Hanif Ghafari

The ambiguous future of European Union

TEHRAN - Economic, security, social and political crises in Europe continue. On the other hand, the next four months will be the European Parliamentary elections: elections that are expected to be successful in those nationalist and extremist groups.

 By Hanif Ghaffari

The battle before the United Europe

TEHRAN - The power of anti-European, anti-migration movements in the European Union is increasing day by day as a result of the financial, economic and migration crisis. Evidences suggest that the European voters’ tendency for participating in the 2019 elections for the European Parliament on 23-26 May is decreased to a great extent.

By Javad Heirannia

SPV is not a magic solution: Ali Vaez

TEHRAN - Ali Vaez, director of the Iran program for International Crisis Group says that SPV is not a magic solution, and it may take a few months before its success can be truly assessed.

By Javad Heirannia

EU committed to finalize SPV: Finaud

TEHRAN - Marc Finaud, the former French Foreign Ministry spokesman, says that the position of the European Union and its Member States regarding support for full implementation of the JCPOA has been clearly reaffirmed on several occasions and will not be changed even if some EU countries participate in Warsaw's Conference.

By staff and agency

Europe starts registering company to trade with Iran

France, Britain and Germany are this week executing their plans to set up a special-payments company to secure some trade with Iran and blunt the impact of U.S. sanctions.

By Hanif Ghaffari 

Europe's vague future

TEHRAN - The EU does not have a quiet time! The activity of the nationalist and extremist groups and movements in Europe has created a lot of concerns among the leaders of the European Union.

Tehran: U.S. after dividing Iran and Europe through Warsaw summit

TEHRAN – The Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the U.S. aims to create division between Iran and some European countries by holding an anti-Iran summit in Warsaw, Poland, next month.

By Damir Nazarov

Multipolar strategy of Iran

Mohammad Ghaderi, chief editor of the Tehran Times, says Iran and Russia can establish strategic partnership in the multipolar world.

By Mehdi Sepahvand

Salehi: EU better launch SPV before it is too late

Iran’s nuclear chief says the European Union (EU) had better launch a promised payment mechanism meant to maintain trade with Iran and bypass unilateral sanctions by the United States “before it is too late.”

By Hanif Ghaffari

Brexit deadlock in London 

TEHRAN - The negative vote by the Parliament in England to the Theresa May plan to leave the European Union has created a difficult and complicated situation in London.

By Payman Yazdani

SPV does not have requisite mechanism to overcome U.S. opposition: Entessar 

TEHRAN - Nader Entessar, professor emeritus of political science from university of South Alabama still insists that the SPV is a hollow shell and does not have the requisite mechanism to overcome U.S. opposition.

Plan to hold Middle East conference in Warsaw irks Brussels

Trump seeks to split EU as fight intensifies over Iran nuclear deal

It's Warsaw and Washington against the big EU powers, as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration pushes to kill the Iran nuclear deal — and to exploit European divisions on foreign policy in the process.

Iran denies charges levelled by German media

TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman has rejected recent allegations by some German media outlets against Tehran regarding the arrest of a person who they claimed was spying for Iran. 

‘Europe’s delay in implementing SPV is unacceptable’

TEHRAN - Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, said on Saturday that the European countries’ delay in implementing the special purpose vehicle (SPV) is “unacceptable”.

EU nations set to snub Washington’s latest anti-Iran push

BRUSSELS — A U.S. effort to enlist Europe in its pressure campaign against Iran faced a setback after officials said ministers from several European Union members will likely skip a summit organized by Washington on Iran and the Middle East.

Jannati advises officials not to trust Europe

TEHRAN – Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, chief of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, says the Europeans are worse than the Americans in trying to deprive Iran of the benefits of the 2015 nuclear deal, aka the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), advising officials not to fall for them.

By Payman Yazdani

EU failure to implement SPV could worsen current situation: Italian expert

TEHRAN - Dr. Pastori Gianluca says U.S. secondary sanctions are jeopardizing the JCPOA and the EU failure to offer a meaningful implementation of the SPV could only worsen this state of things.

EU regrets after Brexit deal rejected by British Parliament

The risk of a disorderly Brexit has increased since the Withdrawal Agreement was turned down by British MPs on Tuesday evening, arousing dismay and regret by European Union (EU) leaders.

Theresa May’s Brexit Deal Is Crushed by Parliament

Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday suffered a humiliating defeat over her plan to withdraw Britain from the European Union, thrusting the country further into political chaos with only 10 weeks to go until it is scheduled to leave the bloc.

By Hanif Ghaffari 

Why is Tony Blair so angry?

TEHRAN - The former British Prime Minister doesn't have a good time! On the one hand, Tony Blair is witnessing the continuation of the Brexit process, and on the other hand, He's in no way happy with what has happened inside the Labor Party! Tony Blair is one of the main opponents of the British withdrawal from the European Union.

By Hanif Ghaffari

Greece’s anger flaring up 

TEHRAN - As predicted, despite the adoption of austerity policies for 11 years, Greece is still one of the most austerity-stricken countries in the EU. Although Greece was supposed to emerge from the bailout by 2012, and step towards economic prosperity, heavy debts prevented the realization of this process. The European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund loaned Greece a total of €289bn ($330bn) in three programs, in 2010, 2012 and 2015.

Ambassador slams EU approach toward terrorism

TEHRAN – Iranian Ambassador to Copenhagen Morteza Moradian on Saturday criticized Europe’s double standard in war on terrorism.

‘EU Iran sanctions over assassination plot claims to harm Europe’

TEHRAN - Mohammad Ali Hosseini, a former Foreign Ministry spokesman, has said that the European Union move in imposing sanctions on an Iranian intelligence service over claims of Iran’s assassination plot will not be beneficial to Europe.

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Head of Political Desk

EU says will not allow U.S. to determine its trade ties with Iran

TEHRAN – The high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy says the United States cannot impose its policies on the 28-nation bloc’s legitimate trade relations with Iran.

‘European sanction on Iran over claims assassination plot is a criminal act’

TEHRAN - Nozar Shafeie, an expert on international affairs, has said that the European Union’s sanctions against an Iranian intelligence service over claims of Iran’s assassination plot is a “criminal” act.

Diplomat criticizes EU for harboring terrorists

Iran urges Netherlands to protect diplomats’ security after attack by Al-Ahvaziya group

TEHRAN – Iran’s ambassador to The Hague has called on high-ranking Dutch officials to preserve the security of Iranian diplomats and Tehran’s embassy in the European country after Iran’s embassy building came under attack on Wednesday.

Iran downgrading security ties with EU: diplomatic source

TEHRAN – Some six European ambassadors and charges d’affaires in Tehran were dismissed in less than ten minutes after they visited the Foreign Ministry to justify the European Union’s reasons for sanctioning an Iranian intelligence service and two related people, an unnamed diplomatic source told IRNA on Wednesday.

Can EU make decisions independently of U.S., asks Iran's vice president Jahangiri

Jahangiri: In reality, we haven’t seen any effective performance from the EU”

Much depends on the position of the European Union. European leaders have committed to maintaining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with or without Washington’s support. But Tehran accuses Europe of failing to match its words with concrete action.