BUTOLPOST – The European Union is opening up the opportunity to lift some sanctions on Iran if Tehran succeeds in reaching a new agreement regarding its nuclear program. This signal was conveyed by the Head of European Union Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, amidst the emergence of new hope after Iran and the United States agreed to end the military conflict.
Kaja Kallas emphasized that European Union sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program will not be lifted just like that. According to him, this decision depends entirely on the fulfillment of the conditions agreed upon in the nuclear negotiations.
“If a nuclear deal is reached, I think member countries will discuss lifting sanctions,” Kallas said ahead of the European Council meeting in Brussels, Thursday (18/6).
This statement is a positive signal for Iran, which has long wanted to ease economic sanctions as part of resolving the dispute over its nuclear program with Western countries.
This hope became stronger after Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) remotely on Thursday morning. The agreement ends the military conflict that has been going on since February 28 and opens the way for a further diplomatic process.
In the MoU, the United States is scheduled to lift its naval blockade against Iran, while Tehran will restore shipping activities through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategic energy trade routes in the world.
Iran also stated its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons. However, discussions regarding the future of its nuclear program will be carried out through separate negotiations which are scheduled to take place within the next 60 days.
For Tehran, the most important outcome of the negotiations was the lifting of economic sanctions that for years restricted trade, investment and the country’s energy sector.
If the nuclear deal is successfully reached, the European Union’s move to consider lifting sanctions is expected to be a turning point in Western relations with Iran as well as opening up opportunities for the country’s economic recovery. However, the final decision remains in the hands of European Union member states after all the conditions in the agreement are met.***
