By Salman Parviz

INSTEX: EU assumes Iranians walking on banana leafs

TEHRAN - After months of delay and despite the 2015 commitments of European leaders towards the Iran nuclear deal, the so-called E-3 (Germany, France and the UK) registered the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX). However, this special purpose vehicle (SPV) has no engine or driver and doesn’t conform with the trade and investment promises made in return for dramatic reduction in Iran’s nuclear program.

Virginia senator: Trump’s withdrawal from JCPOA was idiotic

Virginia Senator, Timothy Kaine, on Saturday described Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), as a foolish act resulting from Trump's jealousy towards his predecessor Barack Obama.

By staff and agency

Iran strong enough to avoid destabilization despite U.S. sanctions: Russian diplomat

Russian Ambassador to Iran Levan Dzhagaryan has said that Iran is a strong country and can avoid destabilization despite return of the U.S. sanctions.

Iran has ‘many options on table’ if EU delays its commitments, Salehi says

TEHRAN - Iran’s nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, has said Iran has “many options on the table” if Europeans delay their commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the official name for the 2015 nuclear deal.

EU proved incompetent in face of U.S. nuclear deal exit: Rouhani 

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the European Union’s performance in the face of Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 proved ineffective.

Iran, three EU states to hold 1st round of expert-level talks on INSTEX in Paris soon

Iran and its three European partners in the 2015 nuclear deal will soon begin talks in Paris, France, in an effort to work out the operational details of a newly-launched financial mechanism meant to protect Tehran-Europe trade ties against US sanctions.

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.

Parliamentary committee chief: INSTEX does not include oil money transfer

TEHRAN - Mohammadreza Pourebrahimi, head of the Economic Committee of the Iranian Parliament, has said that INSTEX (Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges) does not include transfer of oil money.

Youths are Iran’s greatest asset, scholar says

TEHRAN - Modjtaba Sadria, a prominent scholar, has said that the people between ages of 25 to 40 are the main social group in the Iranian society which form the main wealth of the country.

By Javad Heirannia

 ‘Warsaw Conference unlikely to result in any practical achievements’

TEHRAN – Professor Paul Pillar, who was CIA intelligence analyst for 28 years, tells the Tehran Times that the Trump administration has had to walk back from what it initially hoped to do with the Warsaw's Conference.

Zarif tweets out his support for INSTEX

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday tweeted out his support for INSTEX, a new transaction channel that will allow companies to continue trading with Iran despite U.S. sanctions, and voiced Iran’s openness for “constructive engagement” with Europe.

Iran seeks speedy implementation of commitments as EU sets up payment channel with Iran

TEHRAN – The Foreign Ministry issued a statement of Thursday saying Tehran welcomes the European Union’s payments mechanisms to skirt the U.S. sanctions against Iran, yet it sought an immediate implementation of the payment channel.

By Javad Heirannia

There is no relation between delays in SPV with Iran’ missile program: Nephew

TEHRAN – Richard Nephew, who served as the lead sanctions expert for the U.S. team negotiating with Iran, is of the opinion that I think the main cause of the delay in SPV (special purpose vehicle) has been to create a structure that avoids to the extent possible the risk of U.S. sanctions while at the same time providing Iran with something meaningful.  

Europe sets up transactions channel with Iran

Several European countries have set up a new transaction channel that will allow companies to continue trading with Iran despite U.S. sanctions. The announcement was made on Thursday.

By Javad Heirannia

Warsaw Conference will not have any practical impact on Iran: Fitzpatrick

TEHRAN - Mark Fitzpatrick, Associate Fellow of International Institute for Strategic Studies says that the name of the Warsaw's Conference had to be changed when it was clear that few EU states would participate in an event that was clearly identified as Iran bashing.

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.

Trump chastises intel chiefs after they contradict him on Iran

President Donald Trump chastised his own intelligence officials Wednesday morning for being soft on Iran a day after they contradicted numerous administration claims of foreign policy success, CNN reported.

By staff and agency

CIA director says Iran has been in compliance with nuclear deal

CIA Director Gina Haspel has said that Iran has remained in compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

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 Mohammad Ghaderi

Paris is completing the U.S. puzzle against Iran  

TEHRAN - Although the French government insists on showing itself in this equation as an independent actor, the particular insistence of Paris to oppose Iran's missile program is in line with the interests of the Trump government.

Iranian deputy FM: U.S. does not get it about Mideast situation

Araqchi says if JCPOA falls out of balance grave fallouts will ensue

TEHRAN – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said the United States does not understand the situation in the Middle East, warning if the Iran nuclear deal falls flat, it will cause severe consequences.

Europe has remained in nuclear deal for its own benefits: Kharrazi

TEHRAN - Kamal Kharrazi, head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, said on Tuesday that Europe has remained in the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, for its own interests.

Araqchi meets Amano in Vienna

TEHRAN – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi met with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano in Vienna on Monday.

Iran nuclear deal has isolated U.S., Zarif says

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that the 2015 nuclear deal, internationally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has isolated the U.S. and put it in a “complicated situation”.

U.S. JCPOA exit will harm the world: official

TEHRAN – Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs Hossein-Ali Amiri said on Saturday that Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement will hurt the world.

By Hanif Ghaffari

French performance in favor of Trump

TEHRAN - There is no end to the French direct play on Trump's ground! In their latest speeches against Iran's missile program, the Elysee Palace authorities have called for the immediate stop of Iran's ballistic missile testing, and this is the same position they were taking during the past two years.

Iran to demand JCPOA rights even after Trump: Takht Ravanchi

TEHRAN – Majid Takht Ravanchi, deputy director for political affairs at the presidential office, has said Iran will pursue its rights under the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), even after the current U.S. administration.

Iran-Russia ties developed uniquely after JCPOA: envoy

TEHRAN – Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Mehdi Sanaei has described as “unique” the development of Iran-Russia political and security relations in the aftermath of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

‘U.S. will impose more sanctions if Iran joins Palermo Convention’

Demonstrators hold sit-in to protest Iran’s moves to join CFT

TEHRAN – A number of demonstrators held a sit-in at a mosque in Tehran on Thursday to protest efforts by Iran to join the CFT and the Palermo Convention, saying it will expose Iran to more sanctions by the United States.

FATF would be just like JCPOA: cleric

TEHRAN – The interim Friday prayer preacher of Tehran says the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has been created by the think tanks of plundering countries who are after disarming the Islamic Republic.