Iran says to cooperate with EU to ‘preserve’ nuke deal

By Mustafa Kamel

TEHRAN (AA) – Iran will cooperate with European countries to "preserve" the 2015 nuclear deal, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Monday.

Zarif held talks in Tehran with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who arrived in the Iranian capital on Sunday as part of a regional tour.

Describing his talks with Maas as “frank and serious”, Zarif said Iran would cooperate with the European countries signing on the nuclear agreement to "preserve" it.

"The common target of Iran, Germany and EU is preserving JCPOA and preventing tensions in the region, as well as having the Iranian nation benefit from the JCPOA advantages,” he said in statements cited by the semi-official Mehr news agency.

“The U.S. has announced economic war against Iran. This war is dangerous to the region, the world and international order,” Zarif warned.

“In our opinion, the U.S. has targeted the Iranian nation, those who were supposed to benefit most from the JCPOA achievements,” he said.

Maas, for his part, said Germany, Britain and France adhere to their obligations under the nuclear agreement with Iran, going on to call for continuing dialogue with Tehran.

The German minister visited Iraq and Jordan as part of his current tour. He is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Tensions have been rising between the U.S. and Iran since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from the 2015 deal with Tehran to curb its nuclear program.

The Trump administration went on to pursue a number of actions meant to scuttle the agreement, including the reimposition of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil.