April 23, The Iran Project - Last week, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi traveled to Italy and Norway to review issues of mutual interests, the nuclear deal in particular, with the European countries.

While in Italy, Araqchi met with Vincenzo Amendola, Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in Rome.

He also met with Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide as well as  Roy Angelvik, Secretary of State at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry  in Oslo.

Referring to his meeting with his Italian counterpart, Amendola, he said both had good talks in the meeting.

Extensive negotiations are underway between European countries and the US, he said, noting "As we saw in the Luxembourg meeting, there are differences of opinion among (European) countries. Some of them tried to impose new sanctions on Iran while the others opposed them."

Meanwhile, Amendola tweeted that during his meeting with Araqchi Tehran-Rome relations, the JCPOA and regional crises like those in Syria and Yemen were discussed with both underlining the need to solve the crises through diplomatic channels.

Talking to Eriksen Soreide, Araqchi stated that Iran will not stay in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) if US leave it.

“It is a total mistake to pre-suppose that Iran will remain committed to the JCPOA under any circumstances,” said Araqchi in response to what Americans say that Iran will have no other choice but to keep abiding by the JCPOA after the breaking of the deal by US.

The deputy foreign minister's remarks come ahead of a May 12 deadline for Trump to decide whether to extend waivers of economic sanctions on Iran.

In this meeting, the Norwegian foreign minister for her part, attached great importance to bilateral ties of Iran and Norway and asserted, “Norway supports the continuation and implementation of the JCPOA strongly.”

Talking to Angelvik, Araqchi noted the long history of cooperation and relations between Iran and Norway, particularly in the fields of oil, gas and fisheries, and underlined the need for formation of bilateral committees to expand cooperation and reach proper banking and financial mechanisms in areas of mutual interest.

The Norwegian official, in turn, reiterated Norway’s expertise and financial and technical capabilities and capacities for business and investment in Iran.

Norwegian companies are keen on having a presence and expanding it in Iran’s big market, and many of them have already taken steps to reopen their offices in Tehran, Angelvik added.