Iran, UK must make up for lost ground after JCPOA: Rouhani

President Hassan Rouhani says the Islamic Republic has kept to the nuclear agreement it signed with the 5+1 group of countries last year, stressing that with implementation of the deal, Iran and Britain must now make up for lost opportunities.

According to Press TV, in a meeting with the new British Ambassador to Tehran Nicholas Hopton on Monday, President Rouhani added that all sides to the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), should completely fulfill their obligations.

“After the JCPOA, we need to make up for the lost opportunities in the past and this requires the development of economic, scientific, cultural and political relations,” the Iranian president stated.

He also stressed the importance of the complete resumption of banking relations under the JCPOA.

It is important to upgrade the level of relations between Iran and Britain as two important countries, he said and added that the two sides have been expanding the ties over the recent years and can speed up such a process by making use of the available potentialities.

President Rouhani noted that the conclusion of the JCPOA through the efforts of seven countries “carries this positive message to the world that differences can be solved through diplomatic [approaches].”

Hopton, who submitted his credentials to the Iranian president, said his country’s banks and companies are very keen to cooperate with Iran.

He added that representatives of the Central Bank of Iran and the Bank of England would hold talks in the near future.

Meanwhile in a meeting with the new Swedish Ambassador to Tehran Helena Sangeland on Monday, the Iranian president said the implementation of the JCPOA has created a “very appropriate” opportunity for Iran and Sweden to improve bilateral, regional and international relations to serve the two nations’ interests.

President Rouhani added that the two countries must make use of all of their capacities to develop economic relations, particularly in energy and industry sectors.

He pointed to Stockholm’s balanced stance on regional and international developments and said, “Sweden can properly play its constructive role in improving relations between Tehran and the European Union.”

Sangeland also submitted her credentials to the Iranian president and said the JCPOA's implementation led to unique opportunities for the expansion of relations.

She expressed Swedish companies and banks to cooperate with Iran.

SS