EU favours implementation of Iran N-deal: Envoy

The European Union wants implementation of the Iran nuclear deal even though the US pulled out of it and imposed fresh sanctions on Tehran, EU Ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski said on Wednesday.

"Our understanding is that the EU is interested in implementing the Iranian nuclear deal," Kozlowski said during a media briefing here.

"From our point of view, failure of the Iran nuclear deal will have negative consequences for the security situation in West Asia," he said.

The US pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that Tehran signed with the five permanent members (P5) of the UN Security Council, Germany and the European Union and imposed the new sanctions on Iran over its alleged nuclear programme.

This sparked concerns in New Delhi as Iran is a major supplier of crude oil to India.

The sanctions also put in jeopardy the crucial Chabahar port in Iran being jointly developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan.

However, earlier this month Washington exempted India from its sanctions on Iran oil imports and development of the Chabahar Port.

"I am positive about India's efforts to develop the Chabahar port," Kozlowski said.

India is investing $500 million to develop the Chabahar port and a road link from there to Afghanistan to give access to that country, bypassing Pakistan.

The port is also a key link in the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200-km-long multi-modal network of ship, rail and road routes to move freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.

--IANS

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