“Bern to Continue Nuclear Cooperation with Tehran despite Sanctions”

Leitner expressed hope that Iran and Europe could reap the fruits of their current efforts by the next few weeks.

In an interview with ISNA, the ambassador referred to his country’s stance towards the US’ new sanctions on the Islamic Republic and said Switzerland keeps supporting the Iran nuclear deal and does its utmost to make it successful.

“We know that as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reiterated in its reports Iran has remained completely faithful to its pledges under the JCPOA. That’s why we regret the US decision to pull out of the deal and hope that the accord would be fully implemented,” he noted.

He then referred to the European sides’ efforts to preserve the JCPOA and said huge efforts are underway to preserve the current investments made in Iran and “we hope the results could come to fruition in the next few weeks.”

In response to a question on whether or not Iran and Switzerland will continue their nuclear cooperation following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, he said according to a roadmap agreed upon between Tehran and Bern back in 2016, the two sides will continue their nuclear cooperation even after the US pullout.

“Switzerland was the first country which established nuclear cooperation with the Islamic Republic but it goes without saying that we will not be the first country which may cut its relations with Iran in nuclear area,” he said.