“My mandate is crystal clear: Forge practical solutions,” tweeted Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Thursday evening ahead of the meeting with his counterparts from Russia, China, UK, France, Germany, and the EU’s Federica Mogherini.
Zarif said he expects “verifiable & actionable commitments rather than lofty & obscure promises. Make no mistake: Sanctions & JCPOA compliance are mutually exclusive.”
Zarif began the day with a breakfast meeting with Mogherini Friday morning. She heads up the European Union’s Foreign Affairs and Security Policy department.
European leaders are keen to ensure the nuclear deal survives and presented an offer to Iran that will be discussed at the Vienna meeting – a proposal that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said falls short of Tehran’s demand, IRNA news reported.
“We expect Europe to offer a clear operational plan with timetable in order to compensate US exit from the deal,” Rouhani told France’s Emmanuel Macron in a phone call Thursday night, according to IRNA.
Macron reportedly said France was committed to its obligations under the nuclear deal and would continue efforts to save the agreement.
A shadow has been cast of relations between France and Iran after Tehran objected to a large opposition rally held in Paris. The Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) held their annual conference in a Paris suburb last weekend, attracting US speakers who called for regime change in Iran.
Six people, including an Iranian diplomat, were arrested in connection with an alleged attack on the MEK gathering.
MEK is banned in Iran and Tehran has condemned Paris for allowing the group the “opportunity to promote extremism and terrorism.”
Iran's hardliners, who frequently attack the moderate Rouhani, have thrown their support behind the president.
