Iran blames US for imposing fresh unilateral sanctions

The US persistence on imposing sanctions against Iran and its failure to implement its commitments pertaining the nuclear deal is "unconstructive", the Secretary of Iran Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said on Saturday.

"In case this trend is continued and the European Union cannot effectively counter the U.S. measures, it will leave negative impacts on the process of cooperation" on the nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, said Shamkhani.

Iran blames the United States for imposing fresh unilateral sanctions against Tehran over its missile program, which have slackened global major banks' businesses in Iran.

Iran and the EU has initiated good cooperation in multiple areas of economy, politics, energy, environment and fighting terrorism, which could bear fruits in the light of goodwill and a will to boost the interaction, Shamkhani said in a meeting with the visiting EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

To impose or keep sanctions against some Iranian officials, under the pretext of violating human rights, by the EU is also not consistent with the emerging spirit of bilateral cooperation and will only increase distrust, he added.

As for the regional issues, Shamkhani said that the recent parliamentary elections in Syria is an example of democracy and political engagement of the people and this should be encouraged.

Mogherini said that all the countries should help the progress in the implementation of Iran's nuclear deal.

Iran's influential role in the region and the EU-Iran cooperation could facilitate political solutions to the regional crises.

Mogherini arrived in Tehran on Saturday heading a high-ranking EU commissioners in the fields of energy, maritime affairs and fisheries, transport, market and industry.

Source: XINHUA