BICOM

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will meet with the Foreign ministers of Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia in Vienna on Friday to discuss the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal.

The Islamic Republic News Agency reported that ministers are due to discuss an “incentive package” to try to persuade Iran to stay in the agreement and to seek “solutions to preserve the Iran nuclear deal after the illegal US action to withdraw”.

President Rouhani and his Foreign Minister Mohammad  Zarif are currently in Europe for discussions about the future of the nuclear deal.

Speaking alongside Swiss President Alain Berset on Tuesday, Rouhani said Iran is “committed” to promises made in terms of non-proliferation:  “After the JCPOA [nuclear deal] we showed very clearly that whatever promise we make, we stand by.”

Rouhani said that “Iran’s logic has not changed, one party without logic has left the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with the goal of putting pressure on the Iranian nation”.

He added: “We told all our foreign parties that if they speak to the Iranian nation with the language of logic and respect, then we can get problems solved… and that threats, pressure and humiliation will never work against the people of Iran.”

He also warned that regional oil supply could be jeopardised if the US manages to convince its allies to stop buying Tehran’s oil. He said: “It would be meaningless that Iran cannot export its oil while others in the region can. Do this if you can and see the consequences.”

Iran is OPEC’s second-largest crude oil exporter, exporting more than 2m barrels a day.

At a US Independence Day Celebration last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Europe should “stop funding the very regime that is sponsoring terrorism against you and against so many others. Stop appeasing Iran. President Trump decided to leave this bad deal and he did the greatest thing for the security of the world and for the security of Israel”.

On Monday, CNN reported that the Trump administration is considering designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terror organisation. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is reportedly in favour of the designation, in contrast to his predecessor, Rex Tillerson, who in October told reporters that a designation of the IRGC as a terror group could have dangerous consequences.