Amid Europe’s slow work in assisting Iran against the US, Tehran warns of the possible collapse of the nuclear deal

Tabnak – Despite supporting Iran politically in face of the unilateral American policies, the European countries are yet to realize their commitments on finding real measures for continuing trade with Iran. As the continuation of the current situation creates risk of collapse for the nuclear deal, Iran warns about grave consequences of such a scenario.

A senior Iranian diplomat warns that the possible collapse of a historic nuclear agreement signed between Iran and major world powers in 2015 would certainly add to political complications in the Middle East.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi made the remarks in a meeting with Director General for Political Affairs at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andre Haspels in Tehran on Tuesday.

Araqchi hailed the Dutch government's support for the maintenance of the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and its opposition to the US unilateralism.

He said the US breached the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and encourages and even forces other countries to violate the accord through its "unilateral and illegal" move to pull out from the JCPOA.

"If the JCPOA collapses, it means the defeat of diplomacy and the dominance of bullying in the international arena and this issue will absolutely add to the political complications in the Middle East region," the senior Iranian diplomat added.

Elsewhere in his talks, Araqchi said the Islamic Republic's policy is based on boosting security in the Middle East. "Despite some regional countries that have caused different problems and tension in the region by their political mistakes, Iran's policy is to maintain stability and promote security in the region," the senior Iranian diplomat added.

"This is the reason that the Islamic Republic of Iran has fought against Daesh as the most important factor behind regional instability," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, as the European countries are continuing their efforts to find ways for keeping the nuclear deal alive, former German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel says small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can continue trade with Iran despite US sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Gabriel is currently visiting Iran at the head of an economic delegation of chief executives and representatives of German companies.

They met Iran’s Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Nemmati in Tehran late Monday, where Gabriel reiterated Europe’s determination to expand political and economic ties with Iran after US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Gabriel also sounded upbeat about opening a financial channel to continue trade with Iran in the face of new US sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The European Union has said it is creating a new payment mechanism to allow countries to transact with Iran while avoiding the US sanctions.

Called the "special purpose vehicle" (SPV), the mechanism would aim to "assist and reassure economic operators pursuing legitimate business with Iran". Iran has welcomed the step but it is frustrated at the pace with which the SPV is being set up.