25 Apr 2024
Sunday 17 April 2016 - 13:55
Story Code : 209735

Iran missile tests no violation of nuclear deal: Mogherini

Iran missile tests no violation of nuclear deal: Mogherini
The European Unionforeign policy chief Federica Mogherini says Irans missile activities are not in contravention of the countrys nuclear agreement with the sixworld powers.

We do not see the missile tests as a breach of the JCPOA, she said on Saturday during a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran.

She was referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 states -- Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany -- in Vienna last July.

Mogherini, however, said this doesnt mean that we are not concerned.

On March 9, Iran successfully test-fired two ballistic missiles as part of military drills to assess its defense capabilities. The missiles dubbed Qadr-H and Qadr-F were fired during large-scale drills, code-named Eqtedar-e-Velayat.

A day earlier, the countrys Armed Forces fired another ballistic missile called Qiam from silo-based launchers in different locations across the country.

The US claims that Irans missile tests violate the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the JCPOA.

Zarif, in turn, told the presser that Irans missile tests neither breachthe JCPOAnor any United Nations Security Council resolutions as the missiles are not designed to carry nuclear weapons.

New beginning in Iran-EU ties

Elsewhere in the press conference, the two sides underscored their determination to promote Iran-EUbilateral relations in various areas, particularly economy, as well as cooperation on other issues of international importance.



Zarif said Mogherinis trip to Tehran could be a new beginning in ties between Tehran and the 28-nation bloc.
Today is the serious beginning in the relations between Iran and the European Union and we hope that this cooperationleads to common interests, progressand international development for the people of Iran and EU, Zarif said.
He saideconomic and financial cooperation as well as the opening of a permanent EU office in Tehran is on the agenda of talks, adding that four statements are to be issued at the end of the discussions.

Referring to last Julys nuclear agreement, Zarif said Tehran and the EU will cooperate to remove the remaining obstacles in the way of the JCPOAs implementation.

We are certain that the EUs political and economic interests lie in implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and cooperation with Iran, the Iranian foreign minister said.

Diplomacy works

The top EU diplomat, for her part, said her visit to Tehran is focused on a broad spectrum of topics from the expansion of bilateral ties to regional issues.

She further hailed the nuclear deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 states adding that the JCPOAproved diplomacy works.
Iran has delivered on its side of the deal and so has the EU by lifting the sanctions, the EU official said.
After the JCPOA went into effect on January 16, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the Security Council and the US were lifted. Iran, in return, has put some limitations on its nuclear activities.

The EU official further said the 28-nation bloc will support the Iranian bid to join the World Trade Organization.

Mogherini has traveled to the Iranian capital on a one-day visit at the head of a high-ranking political and economic delegation comprising seven European commissioners.

By Press TV
https://theiranproject.com/vdcfm1d0tw6dxea.r7iw.html
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