Mogherini stresses maintaining trade with Iran

Tehran, Aug 7, IRNA - High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy underlined the importance of maintaining trade with Iran. Mogherini made the remarks Tuesday in a joint press conference with Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand. 'This is a legislation that the EU has in place to protect European businesses from the effects of secondary sanctions of sanctions that US imposes outside of its territory,' she said. 'We believe that it is and less to be up to Europeans in this case to decide with whom to trade so there is also a matter of I would say trade sovereignty to be protected,' she added. 'This blocking statute has now been updated.' Apart from that, 'we are encouraging small- and medium-sized enterprises in particular to increase business with and in Iran, she reiterated. 'As part of something that for us is a security priority.' 'I want to make this very clear: we are talking about trade and economic relations with Iran, because this is an integral part of the nuclear deal,' Mogherini said. 'The deal has two parts: Iran gives up their nuclear program and the international community opens up trade and economic relations with Iran. This second pillar has to be maintained if we want the first pillar to be maintained.' 'And so far, Iran has been compliant fully with their nuclear commitments.' 'The IAEA has verified several times in 11 reports that Iran is compliant.' Earlier Mogherini expressed regret over US re-imposition of sanctions on Iran, saying in a statement that 'we are determined to protect European economic operators engaged in legitimate business with Iran, in accordance with EU law and with UN Security Council Resolution 2231.'