Zarif Urges Europeans’ ‘Tangible’ Steps to Facilitate Banking Transactions with Iran


Zarif Urges Europeans’ ‘Tangible’ Steps to Facilitate Banking Transactions with Iran

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on the European parties to the July 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers to seriously address problems in the way of foreign banks trying to work with Iran.

Speaking in a Saturday meeting with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius in Tehran, Zarif highlighted the banking problems hampering the progress of Iran’s economic ties with foreign countries after the nuclear deal with the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“…We expect the European sides to take tangible and concrete steps toward facilitating (Iran’s) banking ties so that we would be able to see its outcomes in the country’s economy,” he said.

During the meeting, the Iranian and Lithuanian top diplomats also exchanged views about the latest efforts to promote the relations between the two countries in various areas, economy in particular.

While the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a 159-page nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) came into force in January, some Iranian officials complain about the US failure to fully implement the accord.

Back in March, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said Americans have yet to fulfill what they were supposed to do as per the nuclear deal.

Iran still has problems in its banking transactions or in restoring its frozen assets, because Western countries and those involved in such processes are afraid of Americans, the Leader said at the time, criticizing the US for its moves to prevent Iran from taking advantage of the sanctions removal.

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