EU Summit Standing Chair Talks with Iranian President... "Implementation of Nuclear Deal is Important"

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] Charles Michel, President of the European Union (EU) Council, spoke with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the 18th (local time) and emphasized the importance of implementing the nuclear agreement (JCPOA·Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).

After the call, President Michel tweeted, "The EU supports the full implementation of the JCPOA," adding, "It is very important at this stage to maintain space for diplomacy backed by positive measures."

President Michel also expressed concern during the call about actions by Iran that are seen as deviating from its commitments under the nuclear agreement.

The Iran nuclear agreement was signed in 2015 between Iran and six countries: the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia) plus Germany. The core of the agreement is that Iran abandons nuclear development, and the six countries lift economic sanctions against Iran.

However, in May 2018, former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement and reinstated sanctions on Iran, prompting Iran to take gradual steps to reduce its compliance with the agreement.

Recently, Iran warned that if the parties to the nuclear agreement do not fulfill their obligations by the 21st, it will suspend inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the JCPOA Additional Protocol.

With the inauguration of the new U.S. administration under Joe Biden, which pledged to return to the nuclear agreement, negotiations to restore the JCPOA were expected to begin between the U.S. and Iran. However, both sides are engaged in a standoff, each insisting that the other must fulfill its obligations first.

Nonetheless, on the 18th, the U.S. confirmed its position that it will return to the nuclear agreement if Iran complies with the JCPOA and stated that it will join negotiations involving the parties to the agreement if such talks are held.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.