- Iranians holding Ashura mourning for Imam Hussein
- Third step: Iran officially informs EU of plan to expand nuclear R&D
- Iran expands nuclear R&D program: Rouhani
- Iran goes ahead in space tech, despite US sanctions: ISA
- Resistance Front undermining Israeli regime power: Top commander
- Iran: 7 crew members of detained UK ship freed
- US addiction to sanction threaten its power: Iran’s Zarif
- Dutch role in 2007 Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear site under scrutiny: Iraian FM Spox.
- Iran: ‘Sustainable Security 2019’ kicks off in Caspian Sea
- Iran’s Zarif leaves Tehran for Moscow
- Shiraz University ranked 1st in liver transplantation: Iranian health official
- Japan’s Abe to meet Iran’s president to discuss easing tension in region
- Downing of US spy drone shattered war threats against Iran: Top IRGC commander
- IAEO head reports development of first ion-therapy hospital in west of Asia
- Iranian Taekwondo team wins 2019 World Cup championship
- US sanctions failed to force Iran to buckle: Report
- Crew fixing Iran oil tanker broken down in Red Sea
- As Iranians hold nerves, US seeks to scare off trade
- Leader expresses concern about Kashmir, urges India to follow fair policy toward Muslim-majority region
- Iran saffron exports down due to smuggling, government restrictions: Exporter
- Iran FM warns US against ‘serious miscalculation’ in Persian Gulf
- Iran’s resistance policy led to release of oil tanker: MP
- Iran in reverse brain drain as top students come home in rising numbers
- Iran official calls for compensation for tanker seizure
- Iran hails N Korea for standing against ‘unilateral’ US demands
- Shia Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Ghadir
- North Korea praises Iran’s anti-US struggle
- Zarif says to meet French president Friday
- Iranian court hearing case of UK oil tanker
- Over half of Japanese voters oppose joining US-led anti-Iran coalition in Persian Gulf: Poll
- IME trade ups by 21 percent in July
- Finland backs INSTEX in defiance of US
- US anti-Iran policy in high seas harms Europeans: LA Times
- Iran, China confer on Syria
- Iran, Finland share views on Persian Gulf dialogue forum: Zarif
- Iran warns US against seizure of oil tanker
- Iraq eager to benefit from Iranian Police’s experience
- Iran planning 3rd step to reduce nuclear commitments: Spokesman
- Leader grants clemency to over 1,000 Iranian inmates
- Registration for Arbaeen Pilgrimage to begin in Iran on Friday
- Iran, Iraq agree to reopen Khosravi border crossing
- Iran deplores suicide attack at Kabul wedding hall
- Iran to hold int'l hand-woven carpets expo
- Zarif meets with Iran-Kuwait Friendship Group members
- Adrian Darya oil tanker not under any sanctions, says Iran envoy
- ‘Iran to stay in nuclear deal as long as its interests are met’
- India envoy happy with positive trend of trade with Iran
- Iran’s annual export of white meat tops 2.5m tons: Minister
- Iranian scientist discovers new state of matter
- Iran, Japan diplomats discuss bilateral ties
- Iran, Ansarullah, European representatives Yemen developments
- ‘Iran to become self-sufficient in producing aircraft engines'
- US issues seizure warrant for Iranian supertanker 'Grace 1'
- Neanderthal tooth unearthed near Iran’s Zagros mountain
- Iran’s Zarif due in Kuwait on Saturday
- US faces humiliating defeat after Gibraltar releases Iranian tanker: Envoy
- Spokesman rejects claim on Iran’s commitment in exchange for tanker release
- Zarif reacts to release of Iranian tanker in Gibraltar
- Israel, UAE engaged in secret talks on Iran arranged by US: Report
- US threatens visa ban as Iranian-operated tanker sets to sail from Gibraltar
- Enemies must factor Iran's global power in their calculations: IRGC's chief commander
- Trump’s administration conflicting messages to Iran baffle go-betweens: Report
- Gibraltar releases Iran-operated tanker despite US pressure
TEHRAN, July 19 - European economic powerhouses Germany, France and the UK have reportedly notified Tehran that they seek to open direct banking channels with the Islamic Republic, in what would be the first practical step to sustain the 2015 nuclear deal and sidestep the US, which has unilaterally withdrawn from the accord.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - In groundbreaking news, The Wall Street Journal cited “several European officials” as saying that the French, British, and German governments are exploring the option of opening bank accounts for Iran’s Central Bank (ICB) and establishing direct links between their national banks and Tehran.
The trio, the officials said, had laid out their plans to Iran during recent discussions among foreign ministers and senior officials in the Austrian capital, Vienna, and are still trying to iron out the details of their initiatives.
The move, if confirmed, would be the first practical step by Europe toward sustaining the Iran deal.
It would also enable direct payments to Iran, bypassing the US financial system.
Other European governments, including Austria and Sweden, are also considering similar options, the officials added.
Tehran and Washington are yet to comment on the report.
The administration of US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the multilateral deal on May 8, over the objections of Europe as well as Russia and China — the other two parties to the deal with Iran.
The withdrawal entailed not only the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran but also the so-called secondary sanctions on third countries. Most recently, the Trump White House has announced that it seeks to supposedly bring Iran’s oil sales down to “zero.” The measures would collectively cause difficulties for Europe to maintain trade ties with Iran.
That pullout in particular prompted the biggest fissure between America and its natural allies in Europe in contemporary history, and the Old Continent began to attempt to offset the impact of the US withdrawal initially by giving verbal assurances to Iran that it remained committed to the deal and then by taking the unprecedented step to activate a European law — known as the “blocking statute” — that seeks to protect European businesses against the US’s secondary sanctions.
European leaders, who had personally lobbied Trump against a withdrawal, were irked by the US president’s disregard for their calls.
In one sharp rebuke, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, on May 16 wrote on his Twitter page, “Looking at latest decisions of @realDonaldTrump someone could even think: with friends like that who needs enemies. But frankly, EU should be grateful. Thanks to him we got rid of all illusions. We realise that if you need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of your arm.”
But the European parties to the deal are also willing to sustain it because it both benefits them economically through trade (which the “blocking statute” is designed to protect) and keeps nuclear restrictions on Iran, too. The Islamic Republic, too, would also be interested in continued relief from international sanctions and in benefits from international trade.
Intense diplomacy is underway to work out details on whether the deal can potentially continue to stand.
After Trump’s withdrawal, Iran said it would consult with its partners in Europe, Russia and China to see if staying in the deal would continue to benefit the Islamic Republic economically. Tehran specifically sought “guarantees” toward that end.
Earlier this month, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei reiterated his call for the European signatories to provide Tehran with necessary guarantees about the continued implementation of the deal.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has also said Europe needs to move beyond rhetorical backing for the deal.
In May, the European Commission reportedly proposed that EU governments make direct money transfers to Iran’s central bank to avoid US penalties.
On Tuesday, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said European countries have implemented the blocking statute, which had been activated back in May.
Source: Presstv
Your Comment