In Brussels, on Thursday 11 January, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini reiterated the importance of preserving the agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme that was signed in 2015. The smooth functioning of this agreement also facilitates dialogue on thorny regional issues such as the wars in Yemen and Syria.
"The deal is working. It is delivering on its main goal, which means keeping the Iranian nuclear programme in check and under close surveillance", Mogherini said at the end of a meeting with the foreign ministers of Germany, Sigmar Gabriel, France, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the UK, Boris Johnson, and Iran, Jawad Zarif. She stated that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had on nine occasions confirmed that Iran was "totally" respecting the commitments taken for its nuclear programme to have no military aim.
Mogherini wanted all parties to the agreement to continue to confirm it at a time when the USA, whose President Donald Trump has on numerous occasions criticised the international agreement, is due to reframe its position on this issue. Mogherini defended the European position before the US Congress back in November 2017 (see EUROPE 11900).
Johnson said they thought the agreement was a considerable diplomatic success and was a way of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Le Drian meanwhile said that "there is no indication today that could leave any doubt as to the Iranian party's correct respect of the agreement". "It is therefore important today that all the stakeholders respect this common commitment and, consequently, that our US allies respect it too", he said.
According to the Europeans, this meeting was the occasion to address other controversial issues such as the war in Yemen. Mogherini stated that the European "concerns" were passed on to the Iranians as regards the development of ballistic missiles and the growing tension in the Middle East. She added that these questions will be addressed in the relevant formats and fora. There is "an urgent need" to speak about other controversial issues, "starting with Yemen", Gabriel said. Believing an Iranian change of behaviour was needed in the region, he admitted that the Iranians were opposed to this. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)