Rouhani in a meeting with Belgian parliament speaker:

JCPOA a great success of negotiation table in a complicated issue

EghtesadOnline: Iranian President has met the President of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium in Tehran on Saturday.

News ID: ۷۷۹۲۱۵

16 September 2017

In the meeting with the President of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium Siegfried Bracke , Iranian President Hassan Rouhani described Iran-Belgium relations long-standing and positive and said that development of ties in various fields, particularly if economic fields, is beneficial to both nations.

"The post-JCPOA atmosphere can be a great opportunity for deepening economic ties between Iran and the EU members," ISNA quoted him as saying.

"Iran is willing to develop ties with the European Union members and, without a doubt, the two sides can make the best use of the current conditions to develop relations to serve the national interests of the nations," Mr. Rouhani went on to say.

"In the previous administration's term of office, we attempted to settle issues and improve Iran's relations with the world and in the new term, we are attempting to make the best use of the atmosphere provided in the previous administration to serve the interests of our nation," said Rouhani expressing hope that friend countries such as Belgium work more effectively for promoting economic ties and activating the private sectors.

On the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the necessity for both sides to live by their commitments, he said: "Iran and P5+1 could reach an agreement in a very important issue named the nuclear issue and this was one of the greatest achievements of the negotiation table in a very complicated issues that can serve as a model for settling other complicated regional and global issues".

"We believe the only body that can announce Iran's commitment to the JCPOA is the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), based on reports of which the Islamic Republic of Iran has lived up to all its commitments stated in the JCPOA," Rouhani added, voicing the expectation that the other side completely live up to its commitments made within the framework of the JCPOA.

Referring to US non-compliance with the commitments made in the JCPOA, he said: "We expect that the EU live up to its commitments and also put pressure on the United States to live up to its commitments".

On the sensitive conditions of the region and the world and the scourge of terrorism, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran added: "Terrorist acts in Tehran and Brussels means that the two countries have a common enemy in this field and it is essential that they cooperate with each other in dealing with this problem".

At the same meeting, Siegfried Bracke also said: "Belgium is determined to develop bilateral relations with Iran and contribute to the development of Iran's multilateral ties with the EU".

Stressing that his country attaches great weight to its ties with Iran, he said: "We believe that the great opportunity of the JCPOA must be made the best use of, especially in the field of trade and economy".

"JCPOA is very important not only for Iran, but also for Belgium and the EU and we will do our best to make sure that the European Union lives up to its commitments".

Iran plays an important role in the region, especially in political and strategic fields, he said, adding: "Cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran is beneficial to all countries that are combatting terrorism".

"As a victim of terrorism, Belgium is determined to have closer cooperation with Iran in this regard," Bracke went on to say.