EU’s Borrell extends timeline for dispute mechanism on Iran deal

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday he had extended the time available to discuss ways to save the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran under a dispute mechanism triggered by France, Germany and Britain.

Iranian diplomat says maximum pressure will spread unilateralism

TEHRAN - Bahram Qassemi, Iran’s ambassador to France, said on Thursday that intensification of the United States’ maximum pressure against Iran will just spread unilateralism.

Denmark urges all JCPOA signatories to honor their obligations 

TEHRAN - Christina Markus Lassen, political director at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday voiced her country’s concern over the activation of the dispute mechanism in the nuclear deal by the European sides, urging all signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to adhere to their commitments. 

By Martin Love

Iran’s one strike may have changed Mideast forever

NORTH CAROLINA - The JCPOA certainly seems to be comatose and dying. Don’t blame Iran. Blame the U.S. first and then the E-3: Germany, France and the U.K. Can it be stated more plainly? No.

Larijani: Activation of dispute mechanism has ramifications for Europe

TEHRAN — Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has criticized the decision by the three European parties to the nuclear deal for triggering the dispute mechanism under the agreement, saying such move would have ramifications for them.

* By Mohammad Ghaderi

U.S. resorts to every ploy to stay in the region

TEHRAN - Despite the passage of two weeks since the approval of a parliamentary resolution to expel U.S. troops from Iraq and its formal announcement to the U.S. ambassador by the prime minister, Washington has made every bid to prevent the issue as it knows that leaving Iraq is considered as an important step toward leaving the entire region.

Russia: U.S. ‘myth-making’ about Iran’s enrichment right

TEHRAN — Russia has said the United States is misleading the international community on Iran’s right to enrich uranium, emphasizing that such “myth-making” has long been part of the U.S. approach toward nuclear non-proliferation.

By staff and agency

Russia warns Europe of devastating consequences if it refers Iran to UN Security Council

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has said that referring Iran’s case to the UN Security Council by Europe will have devastating consequences.

Trump quits nuclear deal because it had Obama’s name on it: U.S. senator

TEHRAN - U.S. Senator Chris Murphy said on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump quit the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, just because it had President Barack Obama’s name on it.

By staff and agency

China says backs all proposals that will help preserve nuclear deal

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Monday that Beijing supports all proposals that will help preserve the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the JCPOA.

Russia’s UN envoy says E3 were first to reduce their commitments

TEHRAN - Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to the Vienna-based international organizations, has said that the European Union trio, known as E3, were the first to reduce their commitments to the JCPOA under a pressure by Washington.

UK's Johnson, France's Macron reiterate commitment to Iran nuclear deal

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated their commitment on Sunday to the Iran nuclear deal and agreed a long-term framework was needed, Downing Street said on Sunday.

By staff and agency

German FM criticizes U.S. maximum pressure against Iran

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas criticized on Sunday U.S. President Donald Trump for his policy of maximum pressure against Iran.

‘Europe must take a separate path from U.S.’

TEHRAN - Mohsen Pakayeen, Iran’s former ambassador to Azerbaijan, has said that Europe must take a separate path from the United States.

Iran warns to reconsider cooperation with IAEA if E3 acts unfairly 

TEHRAN - Iran may reconsider its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) if the three European countries signatory to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) continue their unfair approach towards Tehran's rights, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani warned on Sunday.

Iraqi FM: U.S. pullout from Iran nuclear deal destabilizes region 

TEHRAN - Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali Al Hakim, in a news conference with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Al Safadi in Baghdad, has said that Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has been the cause of recent tensions in the region. 

Europeans are subordinate to the U.S., says MP

TEHRAN — MP Ali Motahari has criticized the European parties to the JCPOA, saying they are subordinate to the United States.

Zarif says Iran will never negotiate a new deal with U.S.

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday that Iran will never negotiate a new nuclear deal with the United States.

Moscow warns E3 of triggering dispute mechanism’s consequences: envoy

TEHRAN - Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, has said that Moscow has warned the European Union trio, known as E3, of the consequences of triggering the dispute mechanism in the nuclear deal.

* By Mohammad Ghaderi

How did it start “Mr. Trudeau”?  Who fueled the tensions?

TEHRAN - In a statement on the Ukrainian plane crash, the Canadian prime minister described the incident as a result of the escalation of tensions between the U.S. and Iran, but he did not say how the situation has been sparked.

By staff and agency

Russia says E3 decision on nuclear deal is ‘worrisome’

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that the decision adopted by the European Union trio, known as E3, on the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the JCPOA, is “worrisome”.

Any wrong step will harm Europeans: Rouhani

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that any wrong step toward the 2015 nuclear deal by the Europeans will be harmful to themselves.

E3 making ‘strategic mistake’ by triggering dispute mechanism: Zarif

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that the European Union trio, known as E3, is making a “strategic mistake” by triggering the dispute mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the JCPOA.

Iran warns to take ‘firm, decisive and proportional response’ if E3 takes unconstructive steps

TEHRAN - The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, in a statement on Tuesday, reacted to a decision by the European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal to activate the “trigger mechanism”, noting that the move will not serve nobody’s interests.

Iran rules out massive cancelation of inbound tours

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism minister Vali Teymouri on Monday ruled out speculations that inbound tours have been massively canceled in the wake of recent tragic incidents in the country.

By staff and agency

EU chief diplomat: Preserving nuclear deal is now more important than ever

European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that preserving the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the JCPOA, is now more important than ever.

Zarif: E3 has bowed to U.S. diktat

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that France, Germany, and the UK have bowed to “the U.S. diktat” for 20 months.

By staff and agency

Putin, Macron call for preserving nuclear deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron, the French president, have called for continued efforts to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

By staff and agency

Kerry calls JCPOA the ‘strongest’ and ‘most transparent’ agreement in the world

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said that the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the JCPOA, is the “strongest” and “most transparent” agreement on the planet.

By staff and agency

China reiterates it is against U.S. sanctions on Iran

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Monday that Beijing is against the United States’ unilateral sanctions on Iran.