On Monday 14 November, EU foreign ministers called for all parties to implement the joint action programme on the Iranian nuclear programme, despite US President Elect, Donald Trump promising to "tear up" the accord during his electoral campaign calling it the "worst agreement ever negotiated".
Noting "with satisfaction" that all the parties – the E3+3 (France, Germany, the UK and the USA, Russia and China) and Iran – were implementing the action plan, the ministers stated in their conclusions that the full and effective implementation of the action plan should continue throughout the agreement's lifetime. They also say that it is crucial that all parties respect their commitments so as to keep re-building trust. In a specific paragraph on the USA, the Council "welcomes and looks forward to the continued issuing of export licenses by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control for the transfer of commercial passenger aircraft and related parts and services to Iran".
The ministers state the EU's resolve to develop its relations with Iran. They say they are in favour of a "a coordinated EU strategy of gradual engagement with Iran that is comprehensive in scope, cooperative where there is mutual interest and critical when there are differences and constructive in practice". The political dialogue, human rights – for which the EU calls for further effort – economic cooperation, trade and investment, energy and climate change, civil nuclear cooperation, environment, the fight against drugs, migration, regional and humanitarian issues are some of the subjects the EU would like to develop with Iran.
The EU foreign ministers also consider it crucial for Iran to take concrete and constructive measures that can help improve the situation in the region. The Council urges Iran to use its influence on the Syrian regime to end violence against civilian populations, humanitarian personnel and civilian and humanitarian infrastructure. They also encourage Iran to enable full unhindered country-wide humanitarian access and engage constructively in a negotiated political process. Iran should also fully contribute to laying the ground for the resumption of an inclusive and Syrian led political process. The ministers also call on Iran to refrain from conducting activities that can deepen mistrust, such as ballistic missile tests. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)