What Iran wants from Europe to save nuclear deal

World
Europe

Iran cannot “interact” with the United States as it is a country whose word cannot be trusted, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying on Wednesday and called the US "untrustable" in fulfilling its obligations.

"The first experience is that the government of the Islamic Republic cannot interact with America... Why? Because America is not committed to its promises," Press TV quoted him in English as saying.

The United States has "deep enmity with" Iran, Khamenei said, adding that Washington intends to "destroy the power factors of the Islamic republic."

A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on April 14, 2018, shows him (R) and Iranian President Hasan Rouhani (L) arriving for a ceremony in Tehran. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, the supreme leader pointed out that the US has failed in all of its previous plots against Iran in the past four decades.

"Like the cat in Tom and Jerry (animated series), they will lose again," he said.

Tough conditions for EU to save the deal

Khamenei on Wednesday also published conditions the three European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal, Germany, Britain and France must accept to guarantee Iran stays in the agreement.

The conditions include:

- The three EU countries pledging to avoid reopening negotiations over Iran's ballistic missile program or actions in the Middle East.

- European banks should "safeguard trade" with Tehran.

- The three EU countries should continue buying Iranian oil and should, if necessary, also buy Iranian oil the US decides not to buy.

- The three EU countries should "stand up against US sanctions" on Iran.

- The three EU countries should condemn the US for allegedly breaking a United Nations resolution that supports the nuclear deal.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, delivers a speech during a press conference at the end of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Buenos Aires, on May 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Wednesday admitted that the EU and the US remain "far from a compromise" over Washington's position on the 2015 nuclear deal after meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Maas said no new information came up during the meeting, and said he had suggested a four-way meeting with Germany, Britain, France and the US about a way forward.

Pompeo's tough tongue

Khamenei comments came after Pompeo on Monday warned that Iran would be hit with the “strongest sanctions in history” and cautioned European firms against continuing to do business with Tehran.

Pompeo urged Tehran to report to the International Atomic Energy Agency about its nuclear program, end proliferation of its missiles, and stop supporting terrorist groups in the Middle East.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the Heritage Foundation May 21, 2018 in Washington, DC. /VCG Photo

The move was a toughening-up of Washington’s policy line after its withdrawal on May 8 from a landmark nuclear pact aimed at preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Mr Pompeo outlined 12 tough conditions from Washington for any “new deal” with Tehran to make sure it “will never again have carte blanche to dominate the Middle East”.

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described Pompeo's speech as "illogical with no heads or tails."

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi rejected Pompeo's threatening remarks as "absurd and interventionist."

The US seeks to distract the global attention from its "illegal moves" concerning Iran's nuclear deal by threatening and insulting the Iranian nation, he said in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)