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.

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.

Zarif: Traditional partners prioritized amid EU procrastination

TEHRAN – Tehran would not wait for the Europeans and their special payment system and will work with its traditional partners, like India, China and Russia, in order to fulfill the interests of Iranians, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said as he visited India late Monday.

Iran says EU is captive to U.S. economy

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Saturday that the European Union is captive to the U.S. economy.

Iranian FM: U.S. never fought Daesh

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the presence of U.S. forces in Syria has been ineffective, stressing that the American troops never entered real and meaningful battle against the Daesh terrorist group.

By staff and agency

There’s mutual understanding with EU to preserve JCPOA: Russian diplomat

There is a mutual understanding between Russia and the European Union to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Russian Permanent Representative to the EU said on Friday.

‘U.S. undermining global efforts for non-proliferation’, Iranian diplomat warns 

Araqchi meets Finnish officials in Helsinki

TEHRAN – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi, who was on tour of Finland, held separate meetings with a number of Finnish officials in Helsinki, according to the Foreign Ministry website.

Establishing SPV faced with problems: Qassemi

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Sunday that establishing the special purpose vehicle (SPV), a European mechanism which aims to facilitate trade with Iran in defiance of U.S. sanctions, has been faced with a number of problems as it is the first time such mechanism is implemented.

Top MP: EU has lost Iranians’ trust for SPV delay

TEHRAN – Kazem Jalali, chairman of the Parliament Research Center, said on Saturday that Europe has lost the Iranian nation’s trust owing to the prolonged delay in establishing the special purpose vehicle (SPV), which is aimed to keep trade flowing with Iran.

EU must take practical measures to establish SPV: advisor

TEHRAN – A senior foreign policy advisor to the Iranian parliament speaker has said Europe’s promise of establishing the special purpose vehicle (SPV) needs practical measures.

Vaezi: SPV to become operational in weeks

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Wednesday the special purpose vehicle (SPV), a European mechanism which aims to facilitate trade with Iran in defiance of U.S. sanctions, will come into effect within two or three weeks.

‘EU plans to finalize SPV as soon as possible’

TEHRAN- In a way to counter the U.S. sanctions on Iran, European Union plans to finalize the special purpose vehicle (SPV) as soon as possible to facilitate export and import processes between EU members and Iran, Tarja Cronberg, the head of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Iran, stated.

Europe not apart from U.S. in enmity toward Iranians: cleric

TEHRAN – Mashhad Friday prayer leader Seyyed Ahmad Alamolhoda has said Iranian authorities should be aware that Europe is not apart from the U.S. in its animosity toward the Iranian nation, Mehr reported.

EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Iran on Monday

TEHRAN – The EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) will meet in Brussels on December 10 to exchange views on the relations between the EU and Iran among other issues including Ukraine, EU-African Union cooperation, Western Balkans, and Venezuela.

EU plans to do all oil transactions with other states in euros: Iran

The European Union is going to ditch the US dollar and use its own currency in oil contracts worth 300 billion euros, an Iranian official said, quoting a European commissioner.

‘EU failed to make tangible efforts to save nuclear deal’

TEHRAN – The European Union has not made any tangible efforts to save the 2015 nuclear agreement while the Islamic Republic has remained committed to its obligations under the international pact, a top lawmaker said on Wednesday.

Pompeo Questions the Value of International Groups Like UN and EU

BRUSSELS — In a major speech on Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tried to explain one of the abiding conundrums of the Trump administration: How does a nationalist lead on the international stage?