If Iran breaches JCPOA, EU is unlikely to be able to save deal - Irish Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW. July 2 (Interfax) - The European Union is unlikely to be able to protect the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program if Tehran decides to breach its obligations under the deal, Tanaiste (deputy head of government) and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Ireland Simon Coveney said at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday.
The EU has undertaken collective efforts to protect the JCPOA, even though this was extremely difficult because of the United States' approach, but if Iran decides for some reason to breach its obligations under the JCPOA, this would put the EU in a difficult position, Coveney said following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The EU's obligations are very serious indeed, and it believes preserving the deal would be in the best interests of all parties, Coveney said.
He said that Iran and the EU do have some disagreements on the matter, yet the JCPOA is a very important agreement which the EU values and wants to protect.
The EU is working to launch some mechanisms to enable the Iran deal to survive, but it is also important for Iran to understand that it will have to play its role for the agreement to remain viable, too, Coveney said.