Kaja Kallas: EU Considers Lifting Nuclear Sanctions on Iran

Moscow (ANTARA) - The European Union will discuss the possibility of lifting sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear programme if an agreement is reached on Tehran’s nuclear issue, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday (18/6). “We have clear conditions and various types of sanctions against Iran. For sanctions related to the nuclear issue, of course it will depend on the fulfilment of the existing conditions,” Kallas said ahead of the European Council meeting in Brussels. “If a nuclear deal is reached, I think member states will discuss that (lifting sanctions),” Kallas added. In the early hours of Thursday 18 June, Iran and the United States remotely signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) setting out the cessation of the military conflict that had been ongoing since 28 February. The memorandum also establishes a schedule for the United States to lift its naval blockade against Iran and for Tehran to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, Iran has committed not to develop nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme will be addressed through a separate agreement. The two countries are scheduled to hold negotiations on the matter within the next 60 days. For Tehran, the expected outcome of the negotiation process is the lifting of sanctions that have been imposed on Iran.