Larijani criticizes EU for weak stance against US! He made the remarks in a meeting with European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, late on Monday wherein the two officials dealt with ways of maintaining JCPOA, regional issues and fighting terrorism and drug smuggling. Borrell condoled with Larijani over assassination of Lieutenant General Soleimani and voiced EU's readiness for solving regional and helping to expand bilateral issues.
The High Representative of the European Union (EU) Josep Borrell arrived in Tehran on Monday to discuss issues of mutual importance with senior Iranian officials. Earlier, he sat down for talks with President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to discuss a range of issues, including regional and international developments.
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Ali Larijani is an Iranian conservative politician, philosopher and former military officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who has been Speaker of the Parliament of Iran since 2008.
Larijani was the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 15 August 2005 to 20 October 2007, appointed to the position by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, replacing Hassan Rouhani. Acceptance of Larijani's resignation from the secretary position was announced on 20 October 2007 by Gholamhossein Elham, the Iranian government's spokesman, mentioning that his previous resignations were turned down by President Ahmadinejad.
Larijani was one of the two representatives of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ali Khamenei to the council, the other being Hassan Rouhani. In his post as secretary he effectively functioned as the top negotiator on issues of national security, including Iran's nuclear program.
#EuropeanUnion #war #USvsIran #MiddleEast #Tehran #eudebate
The European Union's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell visit Iran, his first trip since taking office in December, aimed at reducing tensions over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme.
During his two-day trip that started on Monday, Borrell will meet President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, his office said in a statement.
Borrell's visit aims "to de-escalate tensions and seek opportunities for political solutions to the current crisis," said the office of the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.
The 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and a group of world powers has been crumbling since United States President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018.
Washington has since stepped up sanctions and a campaign of "maximum pressure" against Tehran.
Iran has gradually stepped back from its own commitments under the deal, while military tensions with the US have brought the two countries to the brink of full-blown confrontation in recent weeks.
Borrell's visit will allow him "to convey the EU's strong commitment to preserve" the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and discuss cooperation between the EU and Iran, his office said.
Tensions in the region stepped up after the killing in early January of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani by the US in Iraq.
Crippling sanctions
Washington accuses Tehran of seeking a nuclear weapon, which Iran has always denied.
The landmark nuclear deal struck in Vienna between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, the US and Russia - plus Germany, offered Tehran a partial reprieve from crippling international sanctions.
In exchange, Iran agreed to drastically reduce its nuclear activities and submit to a tailor-made inspection regime by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The renewed US sanctions have almost entirely isolated Iran from the international financial system, driven away oil buyers, and plunged the country into a severe recession.
Iran is now producing uranium enriched beyond the 3.67 percent set by the agreement, and no longer adheres to the limit of 300 kilogrammes (660 pounds) imposed on its enriched uranium stocks.
It has also resumed research and development that was restricted under the deal.
