Citing nuke deal compliance, Iran demands more Western cooperation

Official tells IAEA that trade and economic links need boosting, or future of P5+1 pact ‘at stake’

By AP 21 September 2016, 8:05 pm

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Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Reza Najafi waits for the start of the IAEA board of governors meeting at the International Center in Vienna, Austria, March 7, 2016. (AP/Ronald Zak)

VIENNA — Iran’s delegate to the International Atomic Energy Agency said Western nations need to normalize relations with his country, saying Tehran has been living up to its end of a deal meant to crimp the country’s ability to make atomic weapons.

Iranian representative Reza Najafi noted Wednesday that the United Nations agency monitoring the nuclear pact between Iran and six world powers earlier this month reported no violations of the deal.

But he said it was agreed lifting sanctions “should lead to further cooperation with Iran in all fields, which regrettably has yet to be materialized in full.”

He added that economic and trade relations “should be pursued vigorously, otherwise the future of the agreement would be at stake.”

Both the EU and the US urged Iran to continue to fully implement the agreement.

A Boeing 747 of Iran's national airline is seen at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, June 2003. (AP/Hasan Sarbakhshian, File) — A Boeing 747 of Iran’s national airline is seen at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, June 2003. (AP/Hasan Sarbakhshian, File)

Najafi’s comments came on the same day that Airbus announced that the US government has granted it a license to sell the first 17 airplanes involved in a landmark deal with Iran, made possible by last year’s nuclear agreement.

In January, national carrier Iran Air signed agreements to buy 118 planes from Airbus, estimated to be worth some 22.8 billion euros ($25 billion). The deal included 21 A320ceos, 24 A320neos, 27 A330ceos, 18 A330neos, 16 A350-1000s and 12 double-decker A380s.

Though based in Europe, Airbus was required to get the US Treasury’s license for the deal as at least 10 percent of Airbus components are of American origin.