Iran could reduce its commitments regarding the nuclear agreement, from which the United States has withdrawn, the Iranian news agency ISNA announced on Monday 6 May.
"Although abandoning the nuclear agreement is not on the agenda, Iran is ready to introduce minor and general reductions on some of its commitments", according to an Iranian official quoted by the Iranian agency. He added that Iranian President Hassan Rohani is expected to announce this on Wednesday 8 May, the anniversary of the US President's announcement to leave the agreement (see EUROPE 12017/1). Mr Rohani is expected to detail the reductions in some of his country's commitments and the resumption of some nuclear activities under the Joint Action Plan (JCPOA).
The Europeans were reportedly informed of this Iranian decision informally, according to the Iranian source.
On Saturday 4 May, the High Representative and the Foreign Ministers of E3 (Germany, France, United Kingdom) called on Tehran to "continue to fully honour its commitments under the Action Plan and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons", following the announcement of the strengthening of US sanctions. After cancelling the last exemptions on Iranian oil trade on May 2 (see EUROPE 12240/21), the United States announced, on 3 May, new restrictions on Iran's civilian nuclear program, while renewing authorisations for three ongoing projects under the Iranian nuclear agreement.
According to Ms Mogherini and the Ministers, the Joint Action Plan is essential to increase stability and security in the Middle East region. "The lifting of nuclear sanctions is an essential element of the Joint Action Plan - it aims to have a positive impact not only on trade and economic relations with Iran, but above all on the lives of the Iranian people", European representatives stressed in a joint statement, recalling their "constant" commitment to this plan, "a crucial element of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and essential for our joint national and European security".
The European Union and E3 have expressed their determination to continue their efforts, with other European partners, to enable legitimate trade with Iran to continue, in particular by operationalising the Instex host structure, whose shareholders have committed to " significantly increasing their financial contributions to INSTEX’s operational budget" (see EUROPE 12241/2).
"We encourage all countries, including Russia and China as JCPOA participants, to make their best efforts to pursue the legitimate trade that the agreement allows for, through concrete steps", the Europeans added.
Ministers and the High Representative concluded their statement by recalling that the EU has a comprehensive approach towards Iran to address all issues of concern, including its contribution to regional instability and missile activities. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)