EU sanctions will affect expert meetings with 5+1: Iran

TEHRAN,June 27(MNA) -Iranian Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that the unilateral sanctions imposed by the European Union on Iran will negatively affect the upcoming expert meetings between Iran and the six major powers. Mehmanparast made the remarks during his weekly press briefing in Tehran on Tuesday when asked if the fact that EU governments on Monday formally approved an embargo on Iranian oil to start on July 1 would affect expert meetings between Tehran and world powers. Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) held a new round of talks in Moscow on June 18 and 19 and agreed to hold expert meetings in Istanbul on July 3. Mehmanparast described the imposition of the oil embargo as an “illogical” and “illegal” move, saying, “The measure will have no positive and constructive effect neither on our current relations with European countries nor the negotiations between Iran and the 5+1 group.” An atmosphere of cooperation should be created and a positive approach should be adopted to help the negotiations produce “satisfactory” results, he stated. Mehmanparast also said that the imposition of unilateral sanctions on Iran prevents the talks from bearing fruit and is a propagandistic move meant to change the atmosphere prevailing in Europe that is experiencing crisis. “We are witnessing the situation on the ground in Europe, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Ireland,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman added, noting, “Such measures will not only have destructive impacts on the negotiations between Iran and the 5+1 group but also will exacerbate the crises in Europe.” “Taking steps against Iran’s national interests will not only present a negative image of the countries in question to the Iranian people but also will lead to their own people forming a negative image of them because the people in Europe are under pressure and their national interests would be harmed through such sanctions,” he said.