Zarif: All parties should abide by their JCPOA commitments

Prague, Nov 11, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said all parties should abide by their commitments to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In a joint press conference with his Czech counterpart Lubomir Zaoralek here on Friday, he said the Islamic Republic of Iran was determined to stay faithful the JCPOA. However, he said, this did not mean Iran has no other options but rather it showed that the deal is beneficial to all. Noting that Iran-Czech relations have been increasing in the post-JCPOA era, he said Iran is happy with efforts underway to promote the level of political ties from the present charge d’affaires to ambassador. He also said that Iran welcomed exchange of views with the Czech officials to develop new solutions to the Syrian crisis and fighting the terrorist Daesh group. Zarif said such cooperation could extend to the situation in Iraq and Yemen as well. The Iranian foreign minister further said that Iran’s cooperation with the Czech Republic and the European Union could cover such areas politics, economy, culture, medicine and anti-terror campaign. He went on to stress that the JCPOA was an international agreement not a bilateral one so every party of the deal has to remain committed to it. Zarif said the JCPOA is a multi-lateral deal which is endorsed by the United Nations Security Council as well. Though the US has failed to fulfill its commitments to the deal, the foreign minister said, Iran has been abiding with it in full. He also said that his visit to the Czech Republic at the head of an economic delegation aimed at enhancing economic cooperation in banking and financial areas. Zarif's trip to Prague comes at the last leg of his visit to three Eastern European countries which has already taken him to Slovakia and Romania. Iranian economic delegation consists of people from private sector in banking, energy, transportation, medical services, pharmaceuticals, mining, automobile spare parts, and agricultural machinery. 1378/IRNA