FM urges US to take more steps over nuclear deal

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the US should take more steps toward guaranteeing trade and banking relations with Iran under last year’s nuclear agreement between Tehran and the 5+1 group of countries.

“Certain measures have been carried out by the US to guarantee that banks will not be penalized for trade ties with Iran given the lifting of sanctions after the nuclear agreement but I believe that the US must take more steps,” Zarif said at a joint press conference with his Finnish counterpart Timo Soini in Helsinki on Tuesday.

He added that many countries have expressed their keenness to resume trade relations with Iran following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in January.

“Many countries, from South Korea and Japan in Asia to European states, have signed several agreements with Iran,” the top diplomat said.

Zarif added that such agreements have been signed in various economic sectors including banking, “but certain European banks are still concerned that in case of resuming ties with Iran, they will be confronted by the United States of America.”

Meanwhile, in a meeting with the Finnish foreign minister, Zarif said the implementation of the JCPOA has prepared appropriate ground for the expansion of Tehran’s ties with Helsinki.

“The presence of the Iranian economic delegation in this trip is promising for [bilateral] relations,” the Iranian minister said.

Soini, for his part, said Iran and Finland enjoy the potential to boost their cooperation in different fields including communications and education.

The top Iranian and Finnish diplomats exchanged views on ways to solve the existing crises in West Asia.

The FM also held talks with Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki on Tuesday about ways to improve bilateral relations and settle the crises in West Asian countries.

During the meeting, Zarif submitted an official invitation by President Hassan Rouhani to Niinisto for a visit to Iran.

Niinisto expressed hope he would visit Iran in due time.

Also on Tuesday, the foreign minister and Finland's parliament speaker Maria Lohela discussed the expansion of parliamentary cooperation.

Zarif said Tehran and Helsinki is moving on the right course at government, parliament and trade levels.

Lohela, for her part, expressed the Finnish parliament’s readiness to strengthen parliamentary relations with Iran.

The foreign minister also held a separate meeting with former Finnish president Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari.

SS