Rouhani urges on-time, complete Iran bans removal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has reaffirmed Tehran’s full commitment to the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group in July, calling for on-time and complete lifting of sanctions against Iran.

“The opposite side should also remain committed to its obligations and the lifting of economic sanctions [against Iran] and implement it (the agreement) completely, precisely and on time,” Rouhani said in a meeting with the visiting president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz in Tehran on Saturday.

In line with the expansion of economic and trade relations, Iran and the EU member countries should also improve cultural and scientific cooperation following the removal of sanctions, he added.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia – plus Germany finalized the text of an agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on July 14.

Under the agreement, restrictions are put on Iran’s nuclear program in return for, among other things, the removal of sanctions imposed on Tehran by the US and the EU.

On October 18, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a joint statement that the 28-nation bloc had "adopted the legislative framework for the lifting of all nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions against Iran."

Necessity for anti-terror fight: Rouhani

The Iranian president further underlined the need for a global campaign against terrorism.

Iran, as a victim of terrorism, is fighting terrorism decisively and seriously, Rouhani said.

“Today, more opportunities have been created for the expansion of cooperation between Iran and the European Union to contribute to stability in the region,” he said.

He said that Iran and the EU should tap into their potential “in favor of economic development of all countries.”

Schulz said the JCPOA would be an unprecedented chance and a new chapter in relations between Iran and the EU.

The nuclear agreement proved that diplomacy is the best way to settle differences and serve common interests, he added.

He expressed the European Parliament’s willingness for promotion of bilateral and international cooperation with Iran.

Growing Iran-EU economic ties after JCPOA

In a meeting with the visiting president of the European Parliament earlier on Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the JCPOA will lay the ground for improving Tehran’s economic cooperation with the EU.

Zarif said that Iran welcomes bolstering economic cooperation with the EU based on mutual respect and in line with basic principles accepted by the two sides’ parliaments.

Iran foresees numerous economic opportunities for the further promotion of Iran-EU ties following the conclusion of the nuclear agreement, the minister said.

Schulz, for his part, told Zarif that the European Parliament is interested in the expansion of parliamentary cooperation with Iran through the adoption of new approaches.

The European Parliament welcomes economic cooperation, trade exchanges and investment in Iran in line with the framework of the JCPOA, he said.

Schulz arrived in Tehran on Saturday at the head of a delegation and held talks with senior Iranian officials, including Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani.

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