Alwaght- Iran's Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian has talked with European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrel, exchanging views on latest Gaza developments and Tehran's relations with the European bloc, especially the talks on sanctions removal.
Amir-Abdollahian voiced Tehran's concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, condemning Israeli regime for killing and starving Palestinians in Gaza. He called for immediate humanitarian aids to the coastal enclave.
Iran's foreign policy chief also denounced the so-called humanitarian efforts from the US and certain European countries as "theatrical" due to their continued military support for the Israeli occupation.
He said, that now it is time for the international community to punish the Israeli regime for its massacres and starvation campaign in Gaza.
Referring to the current situation in Gaza and the shocking reports of the execution of Palestinians in Shifa Hospital there and the massacre of women and children by the Israeli regime’s army, Amir-Abdollahian said that unfortunately Netanyahu has taken the Gaza case and even the national interests of the US hostage for his own interests.
The Iranian foreign minister added that the continuation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the Israeli regime’s move to starve the people of the region has turned the situation there into the "real crisis of the century," a foreign ministry statement cited him as saying.
The top Iranian diplomat appreciated Borrell's view regarding the necessity of stopping the war and sending immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza.
While pointing to the responsibility of the international community and the European Union with regard to the Palestinian issue, Amirabdollahian said it is time for punitive measures against the Israeli regime and for the formation of an international inquiry into its crimes including the hybrid crimes at Gaza’s Shifa Hospital.
Sanctions removal talks
The Iranian foreign minister further referred to the continuous talks between EU Coordinator for the sanctions removal negotiations Mr. Mora and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri.
He, according to to foreign ministry's statement, said the Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to continue constructive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, and in return, it seriously expects the western sides to fulfil their obligations regarding the nuclear negotiations aimed at lifting the sanctions.
For his part, Borrell stated that the conclusion of the nuclear negotiations is still one of the top priorities of the EU and underscored the need for continuation of talks on sanctions removal.
Borrell said the bloc hoped it could facilitate the nuclear talks so that they would have fruitful outcomes.
The 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was ditched by Donald Trump in May 2018. However, the talks to revive the deal under Joe Biden’s presidency failed as the West withdrew from the talks following the 2022 riots in Iran.
Concerning Gaza crisis, Borrell affirmed the EU's commitment to delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, supporting the initiatives of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and partnering with the UN to achieve a lasting ceasefire.
