EU working on returning the United States to JCPOA

Speaking in a press conference on Monday, Peter Stano stated that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell’s talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was the first practical step in maintaining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and efforts in this regard are underway.

He referred to Borrell and Blinken’s telephone conversation, stressing that the issue would be pursued at a relevant level.

The European Union weighs up the US & Iran's return to the nuclear agreement signed in 2015 requires Brussels to make major diplomatic efforts.

The spokesman for the High Representative for Security and Foreign Policy in the European Union said that the Union has always wanted to work with the United States on the Iranian nuclear case, indicating the need to find a way for Washington to return to the agreement and push Tehran to respect its commitments, and this will require persistent diplomatic efforts.

Earlier, the spokesman had said that Josep Borrell would continue to make all possible efforts to ensure that Washington returns to the agreement and urge Tehran to respect its obligations within the nuclear agreement.

Stano’s stated the issue in response to statements by the new US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. He stipulated that Iran should respect its obligations before talking about the possibility of lifting sanctions.

Last week Stano had also underscored that maintaining the JCPOA required maximum diplomacy.

"The European Union is ready to work with the United States on the Iran issue. In particular, with the change of the US government, it is essential that we find a way for the United States to return to the JCPOA because the agreement is a key element for the world,” he told reporters on Thursday.

He also said that we must find a way for Iran to return to the full implementation of its obligations in the JCPOA.

The European official noted that resolving the issue was "not an easy task," adding that all 27 EU member states issued a statement last month "expressing their support for intensive diplomacy to facilitate the return of the United States to the JCPOA and for Iran to fulfill its commitments under the nuclear deal."

In 2018 the United States unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement, while Iran deliberately reduced its commitment to the agreement.

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