Borrell defends maintaining contacts with Iran on the nuclear pact despite Tehran’s repressive spiral

BRUSSELS, Jan. 17 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, defended this Tuesday keeping communication channels open with Iran to restore the nuclear agreement, despite Tehran’s repressive spiral against pro-democratic protests and the death sentences applied to protesters.

In a debate in the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the head of European diplomacy has recognized that the internal situation in Iran represents a “difficult challenge” and has described as “unacceptable” the repression of protests and the use of punishment capital against the protesters.

Despite this, Borrell has indicated that “communication channels on the nuclear treaty must be preserved.” “It is a separate issue and all possible efforts must be made to prevent Iran from disposing of a nuclear weapon. I do not know of a better method to do so,” he defended.

He has also denounced military assistance to Russia, assuring that it is something that the ayatollahs’ regime continues to deny in its contacts with Europe. “They deny that they really deliver weapons to Russia, but the reality is stubborn and based on that reality we have taken several rounds of restrictive measures,” he pointed out.

The European Union is preparing a new round of sanctions against Iran for the internal repression against demonstrators who participate in the multiple pro-democratic protests after the death in custody of the young Mahsa Amini last September. A new round of sanctions on which the High Representative has avoided giving more details in his debate with the MEPs.