FNA - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blasted the European states for their lack of courage to stand against the US pressures to fully implement the 2015 nuclear deal, saying that the EU has sustained a strategic loss.

"In complying with their economic undertakings, the US and the West have displayed in full that they are no good prties for interactions. The US has showed its disloyalty and the Europeans have displayed that they do not really dare to stand against the US correctly," Zarif said in an interview with the Persian-language Ettelaat newspaper on Saturday.

"In my view, this is Europe which has incurred strategic losses ever since the US retreat from the nuclear deal because it has failed to show that it is holding a (key) position in the international order," he added.

Zarif also referred to Europe's declared mechanism for trade with Iran - Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) - and said, "It is late but it is positive. Meantime, the Europeans have failed to make the necessary investment in pursuit of their interests and we hope that they will show this courage."

In a news meeting in Bucharest late Thursday, German, British and French foreign ministers officially announced the commissioning of the European special financial mechanism known as INSTEX.

In reaction, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that the special financial mechanism for trade with Iran launched by the UK, France, and Germany is a first step which should be followed by quicker implementation of the EU's May 2018 undertakings.

Qassemi said that Tehran welcomes the EU�s announcement of its special financial mechanism for trade with Iran, but considers it as a first step that should be followed by quicker implementation of other commitments.

�The Islamic Republic of Iran believes the recent move by the European Union to register and announce its special financial mechanism (for trade) with Iran is Europe�s first step in fulfilling its obligations towards Iran as per a May 2018 statement by the foreign ministers of Iran and the three European countries,� Qassemi said in a statement.

He said Tehran welcomes the move, but at the same time calls for the full implementation of all EU obligations in the shortest time possible.

�Following the US withdrawal from JCPOA, despite political positions held by the EU about protecting the deal and the need for Iran to gain economic benefits and limited moves by the EU such as updating its blocking statute, unfortunately we have not seen tangible results and practical moves to Iran�s benefit,� he said.

�The EU�s move to create the special financial mechanism was carried out too late and the E3 and the EU must ensure that the move will compensate part of the illegal US sanctions,� he said.

�The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready for continuing constructive engagement with the European Union and its member states based on respect and mutual interests,� he said.

�Meanwhile, considering the limited, incomplete and long overdue fulfillment of EU obligations outlined in the May 2018 statement, Iran believes the bloc must accelerate the move and the fulfillment of its other obligations to let the Iranian nation reap the economic benefits of JCPOA,� he said.