The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, was due to arrive in Iran on the evening of Friday 24 June until the following day, “as part of the ongoing efforts to bring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) [on the control of Iran’s nuclear programme, editor’s note] back to full implementation”, the European External Action Service (EEAS) announced in a statement.
Discussions have been at a standstill for several months, notably because of the inclusion of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard on the US list of terrorists (see EUROPE 12921/28).
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said the visit was part of the ongoing consultations between Iran and the EU. “It will focus on bilateral relations, some regional and international issues, as well as on the progress of negotiations for the lifting of sanctions”, it said.
“The High Representative, acting in his capacity as coordinator of the JCPOA, will hold meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other relevant Iranian counterparts”, the EEAS added.
On Thursday evening, the EU negotiator, Enrique Mora, announced that he had had dinner in Brussels with Mr Borrell and the US Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley. “(We had) an in-depth conversation about the JCPOA and regional perspectives in the Middle East. Mr Malley reaffirmed the US commitment to return to the agreement”, he stressed. Mr Mora himself visited Iran in mid-May, a visit which, according to Mr Borrell, made it possible to reopen the negotiations (see EUROPE 12952/21).
Iran deactivated International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) surveillance cameras (see EUROPE 12968/33) in early June amidst the Agency’s criticism of Tehran’s lack of cooperation. According to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, if the blockage persists, “in 3 or 4 weeks”, the Agency will no longer be able to provide the information needed to monitor the nuclear programme, which would “deal a fatal blow” to the agreement. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)