World Jewish News

Mogherini: 'Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its policies in the region have to be tackled outside the Iran nuclear d

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its policies in the region have to be tackled outside the 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran.

Speaking to reporters at a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers in Brussels, Mogherini stated: ‘’We have in the European Union strong concerns about both the ballistic missile programme and some of the policies in the region – especially linked to the conflicts in Syria or in Yemen. We made clear, very clear, that these issues have to be tackled outside of the nuclear agreement that covers only nuclear related issues. For us, it is very important to keep the nuclear agreement as it is -renegotiation is not possible in our view and you do not change an agreement that is delivering.

‘’Outside of the agreement, in the proper formats, we are already addressing some of the issues that are of concern. The European Union has kept some of the non-nuclear related sanctions in place, in particular on terrorist activities or human rights,’’ she added.

Mogherini, who was in Washington earlier this week for meetings with US officials and at the Congress, said the EU attaches “great importance” to “keeping the Iran nuclear deal up and running,” adding that during her recent visit to Washington she had discussed the issue with US officials.

“For us, it is very important to keep the nuclear agreement as it is.Renegotiation is not possible in our view and you do not change an agreement that is delivering,” she added.

Mogherini said Iran is ‘’working currently well with the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency]. ‘’ ‘She sai she met in Washington with the Director General of IAEA in Washington, Dr Yukiya Amano, ‘’who reiterated to me his assessment that they are having the appropriate access.’’ ‘’We trust the Agency's independence and technical knowledge to monitor in a very strict manner that all the nuclear commitments that Iran has taken are actually met. And we will continue to keep the highest possible attention for the strictest possible implementation of the agreement - in all its components and by all sides.’’

The nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was struck in 2015 between Iran and the 5+1 Group (US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany).

‘’We thought it was important to explain and present to our American friends the clear European position on the fact that the nuclear deal with Iran is delivering and working,’’ Mogherini said.

EJP