Europe must pressure US to comply with Iran nuclear deal: Zarif

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Europe must pressure the United States to fulfill its obligations under the 2015 nuclear agreement amid Washington's threat to pull out of it.

"Europe must put the US under pressure to implement its commitments and not allow the US to make illogical and unlawful demands despite its lack of commitment and violations [of its commitments]," Zarif said in a meeting with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Tehran on Monday, Press TV reported.

He added that the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was a multilateral agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015 in cooperation with Europe.

Zarif emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is tasked with monitoring Iran’s compliance with its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA, has verified the Islamic Republic's compliance with the deal in 10 reports.

"As of today, I can state that Iran is implementing its nuclear-related commitments…If the JCPOA were to fail, it would be a great loss for nuclear verification and for multilateralism," Amano said in a speech to a quarterly meeting of the agency's Board of Governors in Vienna.

Zarif also said that Europe has been affected by the unwise and politically-motivated US approaches, but can play a more constructive role in saving the JCPOA as a great international achievement.

He added that all signatories to the JCPOA must equally attach significance to preserving "this international diplomatic achievement," noting that it would not be effective to give only verbal support to the deal.

"If the international community is to try to convince one side to stay in the nuclear deal, it is Iran and not the US, which should be convinced," the top Iranian diplomat said, adding that Washington has not only failed to fully comply with its obligations, but even barred Europe from fulfilling its own commitments.

Referring to earlier remarks by the French foreign minister about Iran's ballistic missile program, Zarif said the JCPOA and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses the deal, do not involve the Islamic Republic's missile capabilities.

"The US and other countries that have turned our region into a powder keg by selling weapons must stop such measures," the Iranian foreign minister stated.

He emphasized that Iran's military prowess is strictly for defensive and deterrent purposes, saying the country must only rely on its own deterrent power to defend its citizens.

Ahead of his visit, Le Drian had said that Iran should address "concerns" over its ballistic missile program or risk new sanctions.

“There are ballistic programs of missiles that can reach several thousand kilometers, which are not compatible with UN Security Council resolutions and exceed the sole need of defending Iran’s borders,” he told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper, adding, “If not tackled head-on, this country risks new sanctions.”

Deputy Chief of Staff of Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri said on Saturday that the Islamic Republic would hold no negotiations over its missile program unless the United States and Europe dismantle their nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.

"What Americans say out of desperation with regards to limiting the Islamic Republic of Iran's missile capabilities is an unattainable dream resulting from their regional failures and defeats," Jazayeri added.

SS