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Iran expects "practical" steps from West over implementation of JCPOA: FM

Xinhua, May 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said Saturday that the United States and the European countries should take practical steps to implement the nuclear deal dubbed as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Zarif made the remarks at the joint press conference with the visiting New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

The countries involved in the nuclear talks and the concluding agreement with Iran have abided by their JCPOA commitments, however, Iran expects more practical steps from them, Zarif said.

He urged the West to take measures for the elimination of banking barriers and persuading the international banks for further cooperation with Iran.

On Friday, the governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Valiollah Seif, said the global banks need "reassurances" that they will not be accused of breaching sanctions if they rekindle ties with the Islamic republic, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.

"Some western officials have made positive remarks, but banks need tangible reassurances that they would be immune from baseless allegations (of sanctions breaches)," Seif was quoted as saying.

On Saturday, Zarif hailed what he termed as New Zealand's positive contribution to the implementation of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers reached last July.

"We see New Zealand's commitments to accurate implementation of the deal as a positive sign in bilateral ties," Zarif said according to Mehr news agency.

"We discussed regional and international issues with McCully, especially terrorism and extremism in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East, and we hope to see today's meeting will wield impact on solution of crises in the region," he added.

"Delegations from New Zealand will examine bilateral cooperation in different fields of interests including agriculture, food and dairy industries, new technological cooperation in collaboration with Iranians," he said, adding that some discussions were also made in financial and banking sectors to facilitate trade between Iran and New Zealand.

For his part, McCully welcomed efforts for the promotion of bilateral ties, expressing hope that the cooperation between two countries on international crisis would be effective. Endit