Europeans lack determination, power to implement JCPOA commitments: Zarif

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says a request by the British Middle East minister to delay the implementation of Europeans' non-dollar mechanism for trade with Iran shows their lack of genuine determination to abide by their commitments as per a 2015 nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic.

According to Press TV, Zarif made the remarks on the sidelines of his tour of an exhibition on Monday when he was asked about Andrew Murrison’s request for the postponement of the European Union’s INSTEX mechanism -- officially called the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges -- during his recent visit to Tehran.

“Repeated delays with regard to the INSTEX [implementation] shows that Europeans neither have the power nor determination to implement their commitments [as per the nuclear deal with Iran, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)], but we will continue our [reciprocal] measures on the basis of Article 36 [of the accord],” Zarif said.

Zarif added, “We have announced that whenever Europeans believe that they should pay a price for their security and carry out measures to fulfill their commitments, our [reciprocal] measures will be reversed."

Asked whether the Europeans would adopt a specific measure to launch INSTEX within the next two weeks, the top Iranian diplomat said, "This issue depends on whether Europe believes it should or should not take a measure."

"We believe that, at the present time, there are enough reasons for Europeans to take action. They must accept that if they fail to fulfill their obligations, they must get ready for its consequences," Zarif pointed out.

In his Sunday meeting with the British Middle East minister in Tehran, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs  Abbas Araqchi said Iran is now convinced that the Europeans’ political unwillingness, and not their inability, is to blame for their failure to fulfill their commitments under the JCPOA.

“We are convinced that Europe’s lack of commitment to its JCPOA undertakings was not because of its incapability, but lack of determination," Araqchi said.

SS