“Iran not to hold talks with EU on anything beyond JCPOA”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi says Iran’s current negotiations with the EU over the JCPOA don’t cover any issue beyond the nuclear deal.

News ID: 70272

Date: 21 May 2018 - 11:18

TEHRAN (Defapress)-Qassemi on Sunday dismissed “baseless” reports by certain Western media which quoted anonymous diplomatic sources as saying the EU has offered new packages of incentives to Iran in return for clinching a new nuclear deal.

In response to reporters’ questions, the spokesman said such absurd reports come from the Zionists’ media, international chaos seekers’ think-tanks and the enemies of the Iranian nation.

“The reports are aimed at creating a smear campaign against Iran and undermining the ongoing negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal,” he said.

The spokesman went on to say that as a committed party to the JCPOA, following the unilateral, illegal and scandalous withdrawal of the US from the multi-national agreement, the Islamic Republic of Iran will remain in the deal as long as the remaining sides acknowledge Iran’s rights under the accord.

“In response to the requests of the other sides to remain in the nuclear deal, the Islamic republic has made it clear that it will remain in the deal only if the other sides explicitly acknowledge and protect Iran’s full right under the JCPOA,” he said.

Qassemi then denounced any report on discussions between Iran and the EU on issues beyond the JCPOA as baseless, stressing that such allegations don’t deserve any serious attention.

“The significant point here is whether or not the other sides will be able to fulfill their pledges under the JCPOA, and this will become clear in the upcoming intensive negotiations,” he said.

The spokesman went on to say that within the framework of the first joint commission of the JCPOA, which is expected to be held without the US presence in the coming days at Iran’s request, Tehran and the remaining sides will only discuss the JCPOA and the issues related to the deal.

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