Top Iranian official urges Europe to defend independence from US

A top Iranian foreign relations official said that Europe is expected to defend its independence and interests in face of the US sanctions.

News ID: 70240

Date: 18 May 2018 - 16:17

TEHRAN (Defapress)-Speaking to the Italian daily The Corriere della Sera, Kamal Kharrazi, head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, said that the US threat to imposed sanctions on countries doing business with Iran is against Europe's interests.

Europe should adopt all necessary measures to defend its trade and economic ties with Iran, he said.

Kharrazi, who was in Italy upon an invitation by the country's former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin to attend an international relations forum, also proposed the European countries to use euro instead of dollar to circumvent the US sanctions.

Noting that Iran is considering to make its deals in euro, the official said that other choices are also under consideration.

If Europe does not defend itself against the threat, the future will be more complicated,' Kharrazi said.

Iran has been committed to all its obligations under the JCPOA, he said, adding that whether the deal can be saved depends on the European countries' conduct.

Let's be hopeful that Europe can defend its independence, face and interests, which are different from those of the US, the former Iranian foreign minister said.

Commenting on the accusations about Iran supporting terrorism in the region, the official said Iran is defending its friends and neighbors.

It is the US and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia, that are supporting the terrorist groups, he said.

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