Italy Ready to Help Address JCPOA Issues

EghtesadOnline: Italy's prime minister said Rome is ready to cooperate in addressing issues facing the 2015 nuclear deal using the platform of international organizations.

News ID: ۷۴۹۹۰۲

22 April 2020

"We will try to take effective steps through the assemblies of European countries and members of the G7 and G20," Giuseppe Conte said in a phone conversation with President Hassan Rouhani on Monday, President.ir reported.

According to  Financial Tribune, the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was signed between Iran and six world powers, but the United States unilaterally pulled out in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions on Tehran.

As a result of the US restrictions’ economic impacts, Iran is deprived of the benefits promised by the deal in return for curbs on its nuclear program.

Therefore, it reduced its compliance based on the deal's provisions, saying the measures will be reversed as soon as Iran can enjoy the benefits once again.

"We are ready to fully meet our commitments, if the other side fulfills its own and stops its threats," Rouhani told the Italian prime minister.

He highlighted Italy's important status in Iran's foreign policy, hoping it will encourage the EU to fully implement JCPOA.

As part of efforts to offset the effect of sanctions, the three European parties, France, Germany and Britain, launched a barter system called INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges) in January 2019 to facilitate trade with Iran, but it only conducted its first transaction last month, which involved a small amount of humanitarian goods.

Iranian officials said the transaction was trivial and hardly had a significant effect on the country's economy.

"INSTEX unfortunately has not been able to play a significant and effective role," Rouhani said.

Conte said Italy will help strengthen the barter system by promoting it among more countries.

"We are ready … to enhance the EU's financial mechanism and encourage the active participation of countries to this end," he said.

COVID-19 Response

Washington has refused to ease its so-called maximum pressure campaign even during the global spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while Iran's response is seriously hampered by the restrictions.

"Under these tough conditions, America's pressure on the Iranian people is more inhumane than ever and is the continuation of a brutal crime that is against all humanitarian principles and international law," Rouhani said.

The US also plans to block Iran’s request for a $5 billion emergency International Monetary Fund loan to fight coronavirus.

Rouhani said Iran expects European countries, including Italy, to take measures against this violation of international regulations during the current health crisis.

"Political issues should not be treated as before and humanitarian causes such as saving people's lives should be given priority," he said, adding that the fate of the international community is now closely linked.

Conte said he understands Iran's difficulties, because Italy was also among countries worst hit by the viral disease.

He also welcomed the two countries’ sharing of experiences in the fight against COVID-19.