Dr. Kamal Kharrazi in a meeting with Andrew Murrison, the UK Undersecretary of State for Middle East Affairs citing negative historical records on British interventions in Iran’s internal affairs ranging from the World War I invasion which led to a famine with more than 10 million victims, to D’Arcy concessions, aggressions against Iran during World War II, the coup against the Mossadegh government and support for the regime of Saddam Hossein in the eight-year war imposed on Iran, said: “In order to change its negative historical record, London should take major steps in correcting its behavior.”
Dr. Kharrazi said the effectiveness of the JCPOA depends on commitment of the other parties, and pointing to the expression of hope by the British official to implement INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges) soon, said: “We have heard the adverb ‘soon’ repeatedly since the time nuclear deal was concluded, but the pledge has not been realized yet. Only two weeks are left and this “soon” pledge must be fulfilled within this time.”
The SCFR President added: “Iran is firm in suspending part of its commitments on the basis of the JCPOA text, and the right it has foreseen for Iran and continued that: I assure you that if the other parties do not take appropriate measures within the next two weeks we will take further steps in suspending parts of our commitments.”However, he noted that suspension of commitments by Iran does not mean its withdrawal from the nuclear agreement.
The SCFR President considered the implementation of INSTEX a positive step in the remaining 2 weeks, and said: “Iran expects the other sides to correct their mentality that pressures on Iran could be effective and instead, take necessary steps in providing financial resources for INSTEX and removing the barriers on the trade and financial transactions with Iran. Eliminating the sanctions, and normalization of business and economic cooperation can change the current environment.”
Noting that Europe voiced verbal support for the JCPOA, but has taken no practical action, Dr. Kharrazi said: “We have even recently noticed the adoption of hasty and unacceptable stances by the British side on incidents in the Persian Gulf. For example, in the recent attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, the British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt in a hasty reaction accused Iran of being behind those attacks without being investigated or presenting any evidence, which was a false claim.”
Dr. Kharrazi expressed his hope that the European parties to the JCPOA would take measures in the remaining two weeks, and refuse to support the US pressures and sanctions against Iran by maintaining their independence.
UK Undersecretary of State for the Middle East Affairs, Andrew Murrison for his part stressed the need to move on by looking to the future. He reiterated London’s stance on the necessity of keeping the JCPOA alive. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining relations with Iran.