It would be to “sell the deal” to those in Iran who were skeptical of it and to begin the important task of seeking cooperation beyond the nuclear deal, he said in an interview ahead of Mogherini’s visit.
Advertisement
Writing on the op-ed page of Britain’s Guardian newspaper, Mogherini said EU foreign ministers have tasked her with exploring “ways in which the EU could actively promote a more cooperative regional framework” in the wake of the Vienna deal.
Iran’s foreign minister moved yesterday to dismiss speculation that his country’s nuclear deal with major powers could hit difficulties, saying he had “no concern or worry” about its implementation. How he will be received “will for us be an evaluation of Iran’s behaviour”, President Francois Hollande said on Monday. He added, though, that the world community, and especially the US, would have to make an effort to dispel decades of mistrust.
But Saudi Foreign Minister Jubeir, speaking at a news conference with Mogherini, rebuffed Iran’s offer to seek improved regional ties and accused Tehran of threatening its ally Bahrain.
No, the problems the Gulf states have with Iran are related to the many crises now troubling the region, where both parties stand against each other politically, and sometimes even through indirect, though nonetheless heated, military conflict.
Zarif’s charm offensive in the Gulf included stops in Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq.
The diplomatic source said Mogherini would also discuss Syria and Iraq, where Islamic State group jihadists have seized territory and carried out widespread atrocities.
Mogherini will then go on to Iran, where she will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif and other senior officials.
“It’s therefore understandable that the American people would have turned against it in this situation because they have been bombarded on the airwaves by negative commentary about this deal”, said Afshin Molavi of Johns Hopkins University.
The Sunni Muslim kingdom and its Gulf Arab allies accuse Tehran of meddling in Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. “Our message to the regional countries is that we should fight together against this shared challenge”, Zarif added.
She expressed the hope that implementation of the nuclear deal would open new chapter in the economic, trade and political relations between Iran and the EU, and would help the expansion of Iran’s relations with the European states.
Iran agreed earlier this month to limits on its nuclear program in exchange for broad sanctions relief.
Advertisement
“This plan was designed to address the nuclear issue alone, not to reform Iran’s regime, or end its support for terrorism, or its contributions to sectarian violence in the Middle East”, Kerry told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
