Iran Waiting for EU to Guarantee Continued Oil Sales, Banking Ties: FM

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Tehran is still waiting for the European Union’s measures to guarantee the continued sale of Iran’s crude oil and maintaining banking ties with the bloc despite the US bans.

Asked about the EU’s €18 million support package proposed to Iran, Zarif said on Saturday, “This package helps both sides to communicate with each other and has nothing to do with the JCPOA. It is baseless that some say this package is proposed to save the nuclear deal.”

“The European Union was supposed to do such a thing, [and to take other measures] including maintaining Iran’s oil sales and banking ties, which we are still waiting for,” added Zarif.

The European Union on Thursday adopted an €18 million package to support development projects in Iran, especially those that are undertaken by the private sector.

The EU has announced that the aid is part of a larger package worth €50 million to help the Islamic Republic resolve its economic and social challenges.

The package will be spent on development of private sector including small and medium-sized companies as well as environmental projects and fight against drugs.

After the withdrawal of Washington from the Iran nuclear deal, the EU has been trying to maintain its trade with the Islamic Republic.

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