Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tasked on Saturday his foreign minister to address with China, Russia and Europe the options available to Tehran in wake of the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
Rouhani took the decision during a government meeting for his economy team, which included Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif and Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh. The meeting focused on the repercussions of the US withdrawal, particularly the economic ones.
Zarif will kick off his mission in China on Sunday.
Rouhani stressed the need to achieve Iran’s economic interests as a condition to continuing with the nuclear deal.
He called on the foreign ministry to dispatch delegations to carry out direct negotiations with China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany on the commitments of the nuclear agreement. The delegations have also been tasked with obtaining practical guarantees aimed at normalizing relations and developing economic relations with other countries during next week.
Zarif is expected to leave Tehran for Beijing on Sunday and then head to Moscow on Monday.
Prior to leaving Tehran, the minister had discussed by telephone the fate of the nuclear deal with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini.
The two officials conferred on plans and arrangements for a Tuesday meeting in Brussels between them and the foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany.
In a telephone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday, Rouhani had demanded that the three European powers announce their “clear and honest” stance on the nuclear deal and provide guarantees in wake of the US withdrawal.
US President Donald Trump had announced on Tuesday Washington’s pullout from the “defective” 2015 Iran nuclear day, adding that he would re-impose the highest level of economic sanctions against Tehran.
Two days later, the US imposed sanctions on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps financial networks.
