Iran urges Europe to normalise economic ties despite US sanctions

Iran said on Sunday Europe was in no position to criticise its military capabilities and it called on European leaders to normalise trade ties with Tehran despite US sanctions, or face consequences.

"Europeans are not in a position to criticise Iran for issues outside the JCPOA [The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by the state broadcaster.

"The Europeans and other signatories of the JCPOA should normalise economic ties with Iran...We will halt our commitments or will take action in accordance with their measures," Zarif added.

President Donald Trump last year withdrew the United States from a 2015 nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic and reimposed crippling sanctions.

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In reaction to Trump's unilateral decision, Iran announced it was backing away from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal which saw limits on its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

France, Britain and Germany share the same concerns as the United States over Iran's ballistic missile development and regional activities.

However, the European signatories to the deal have been eager to keep the deal alive and defended it as the best way to limit Iran's enrichment of uranium.

Iran on Friday rejected a suggestion made by France to re-open talks on the country's nuclear programme.

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi warned that "bringing up issues that are beyond the JCPOA does not help in saving the JCPOA, but will instead cause increased distrust among the remaining parties" to the deal.

President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that his goal of "regional peace" would require new negotiations, saying that France also intended to rein in Iran's nuclear and ballistics activities and its regional influence.

Despite Trump pulling the US out of the deal, Iran had until recently remained in full compliance with the stipulations of the agreement. European and other powers have struggled to bypass US sanctions, meaning the deal is effectively dead.

Agencies contributed to this report 

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