Sanctions on Iran affecting European economy:Iranian SNSC secretary

TEHRAN,April 17(MNA) – The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili said that the sanctions that have been imposed on the Islamic Republic are negatively affecting European countries. Jalili, who is Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, made the remarks during a recent interview with Euronews in Istanbul, which was published on its website on April 15. Two rounds of talks were held in Istanbul on April 14 between representatives of Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China – plus Germany), which ended a 15-month hiatus in talks. The two sides agreed to meet again in Baghdad on May 23. During the interview, Jalili commented on the sanctions imposed on Iran, saying, “Today, Europeans are paying costs which they do not deserve to pay. They are missing out on opportunities and possibilities, and that will have a negative effect on their economic situation.” “Today the Islamic Republic of Iran has a good export capacity to European Union member states, mostly in the energy and oil sectors. And Europe is also missing out on the Iranian market, which has 70 million people,” the Iranian official said, according to a translation of his comments by Euronews. He added that there was a great potential for Iran to import from Europe, but sanctions, especially those imposed on Iran’s banking sector, have created a number of stumbling blocks. Jalili also said that it is ordinary Europeans who are paying the price through thousands of lost job opportunities. Elsewhere in his remarks, he commented on the talks between Iran and the major powers in Istanbul and said, “We believe the talks should be shaped on a platform of cooperation. Now the other side is ready for that and we welcome that.”