GENEVA – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Switzerland on Mondayat the start of European trip billed as of “prime importance” after the USpulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.
The tour, which also includes a stop in Austria, is part of Tehran sefforts to secure Europe s continued support for the landmark agreementaimed at preventing Iran from building the atomic bomb.
Substantial parts of the historic nuclear pact were negotiated inSwitzerland before it was signed in July 2015 in Vienna, where the Rouhaniwill head on Wednesday.
The trip will be an “opportunity to talk about the future of the (nuclear)agreement,” he told reporters at Tehran s Mehrabad Airport before boardinghis flight, state television showed.
Rouhani and his large delegation were greeted by Swiss President AlainBerset, along with an honour guard, after they landed in Zurich.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is also scheduled to hold talks withSwiss officials in the capital Bern.
The visit comes nearly two months after US President Donald Trumpunilaterally pulled out of the agreement, to the ire of the othersignatories — China, France, Germany, Britain and Russia — which alongwith the European Union have continued to back the accord.
Iran has warned it is ready to resume uranium enrichment to 20 percent –above the level permitted in the deal — “within days” if the deal fallsapart.
Rouhani s trip will be of “prime importance” as it could “provide a moreprecise picture of cooperation between Iran and Europe,” Iranian foreignministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi said in comments carried by thesemi-official ISNA news agency on Saturday.
Austria on Sunday took over the European Union s six-month rotatingpresidency, while Switzerland represents US interests in Iran owing to theabsence of diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran.
Vienna is also the home of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the IAEA,which monitors Iran s compliance with the accord.
The nuclear deal has been the cornerstone of Rouhani s policy of greateropenness with the West, and the US move has seen him severely criticised byultra-conservatives at home.
Even before Trump s decision, Iranians had long complained that thehoped-for uptick in foreign investment after the deal had not materialised.
Washington s decision paves the way for new US sanctions against Tehran,which will encompass businesses from third countries that continue tooperate in Iran.
A number of foreign firms have already announced they would cease theirIranian activities in light of the looming imposition of sanctions.
Rouhani is scheduled to attend a meeting on Tuesday with the Swiss chamberof commerce on innovation in the health sector. The two governments arealso due to sign agreements on economic cooperation.
There will be a similar focus on finances in Vienna, where the Iranianpresident is expected to sign memorandums on economic cooperation accordingto Austrian media.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said he will speak plainly with Rouhani aboutIran s role in the Middle East, as Tehran continues to deny accusations itis destabilising the region.
Kurz told the Austrian news agency APA he will also find “clear words” todiscuss the human rights situation in Iran.
Last month the United States urged fellow Security Council membes to punishIran for “malign behaviour” in the Middle East.
The European tour is part of a broader diplomatic effort by Tehran to rallysupport in the wake of Trump s May 8 withdrawal from what is formally knownas the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Last month Rouhani visited China, while Zarif embarked on a tour ofBritain, France, Germany, China and Russia.
The foreign minister on June 24 warned that failing to save the nucleardeal would be “very dangerous” for Tehran.
But the Iranian government has said it will not continue to abide by theagreement if doing so goes against its economic interests.
Iran s supreme leader Ali Khamenei has demanded that Europe provide anumber of economic guarantees in order for Tehran to continue itscommitments.
Increasing the pressure on Iran s European partners, he orderedpreparations be made to quickly restart nuclear activities in case talkscollapse. – APP/AFP