By Nawal Sayed
CAIRO, Nov. 20 (SEE) - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif said Tuesday that European countries have found difficulties in setting up an alternative commercial mechanism to adopt while dealing with Tehran without resorting to the US dollar.
"European countries face challenges in deciding which country will host the assumed commercial mechanism," Zarif added.
In August, the United States re-imposed sanctions on Iran that it lifted just two years ago. President Donald Trump withdrew from the multilateral deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on May 8th, for “disastrous flaws” that he said posed a security threat.
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President Donald Trump holds up a proclamation declaring his intention to withdraw from the JCPOA Iran. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters[/caption]
"The return of U.S. sanctions aims at restraining Iran’s behavior beyond nuclear controls but runs the risk of reviving a program to develop atomic weapons," experts said.
On Nov. 5, Washington announced a series of sanctions targeting Iran’s banks, shipping sector, national airline and 200 inpiduals.
European MPs Press for Imposing Sanctions on Iran
In a related context, European foreign ministers agreed Tuesday to consider imposing sanctions on Iran, following allegations that Tehran's intelligence services planned to carry out two terrorist acts in Europe.
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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, and European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, speak at a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 12, 2018. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo[/caption]
Fifteen European parliamentarians slammed "EU silence" over Tehran and Iranian regime's violations against human rights.
Earlier, France imposed sanctions on Iranian diplomats, claiming that they schemed to attack an Iranian opposition gathering in Paris.
Britain's Hunt in Iran for 1st Time
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt discussed the future of the 2015 nuclear deal, the conflict in Yemen and other issues in meetings with Iranian authorities in Tehran on Monday, Iranian state media reported.
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Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif meets with British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, in Tehran, Iran, November 19, 2018. Fars News website[/caption]
"Hunt's first trip to Iran as foreign minister seeks to press Iran on its human rights record and call for the immediate release of detained British-Iranian dual nationals where there are humanitarian grounds to do so," Hunt's office said.
"The Europeans should accelerate their efforts to save the deal...We are ready for all scenarios, including a return to pre-deal era," the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, told Hunt, Iranian state television reported as reported by Reuters.
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