Araghchi–Kallas Understanding on Continuing Consultations in the Coming Days

WANA (Sep 05) – Iran’s Foreign Minister said Thursday night in Doha, during a meeting with the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, that the EU is expected to play a role in countering moves against diplomacy. The two sides agreed to continue consultations in the coming days and weeks.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, and Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, met on the evening of Thursday, 4 September, in Doha.

This was their first bilateral meeting, during which they discussed the latest developments regarding Iran’s nuclear file, particularly in light of what Araghchi described as the irresponsible and unjustified action of the three European states in seeking to reinstate annulled UN Security Council resolutions, as well as Iran’s ongoing engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Araghchi and Kallas had recently spoken by phone. Following the three European countries’ letter to the Security Council initiating the snapback mechanism, Araghchi had also sent a letter to the EU foreign policy chief.

In Thursday night’s meeting, Araghchi reiterated that the action taken by the three European states was unlawful and unjustified, and reminded Kallas of her important role as the Coordinator of the Joint Commission of the JCPOA. He stressed that the EU is expected, under the JCPOA and Security Council Resolution 2231, to fulfill its responsibilities and to help neutralize moves undermining diplomacy.

Araghchi also underlined Iran’s consistent commitment to the path of diplomacy, emphasizing that Tehran remains serious and steadfast in this regard.

For her part, the EU foreign policy chief described diplomacy and negotiation as the only way to address all sides’ concerns, stressing the need to give diplomacy more time and space.

The two sides agreed to continue consultations in the coming days and weeks.

The meeting between Araghchi and Kallas came as Israel carried out attacks against Iran, while the foreign ministers of the three European states were also present at a joint meeting in Geneva.

Foreign Ministers of the European Troika. Social media/ WANA News Agency