VIENNA 7 Jul (ANA - Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has called on European powers to implement economic measures to protect the 2015 nuclear deal before US sanctions against Tehran snap back between August and November.

 

Zarif made the statement on Friday after meeting in Vienna with foreign ministers from the remaining countries signatory to the international deal following the US' unilateral withdrawal in May.

 

"Now we need to enter into the implementation stage," Zarif, speaking in Persian, told reporters gathered at the Austrian capital.

 

"We all have in mind a timeframe that is dictated by US sanctions, meaning measures need to be carried out before the sanctions."

 

Iran has threatened to withdraw from the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), if it does not receive enough economic guarantees from Europe. 

 

Washington has threatened the JCPOA's remaining signatories with punitive measures if they engaged in trade and investment with Tehran.

 

Without giving details, Zarif said European officials "provided more explanation" on how the guarantees will be implemented in some areas such as oil and banking issues.

 

The most punitive of the secondary US sanctions is expected to snap back in November. 

 

Ahead of Friday's meeting, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said it was unlikely that Europe would be able to put together an economic package for Iran before November.

 

"We are trying to do it before sanctions are imposed at the start of August and then another set of sanctions in November. For the start August, it seems a bit short, but we are trying to do it by November," he was quoted by Reuters news agency as telling a French radio station.

 

But Le Drian also warned Iran to "stop the threats" to withdraw from the deal if it does not receive enough guarantees from Europe.

 

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also said that world powers would not be able to fully compensate for companies who are abandoning their operations in Iran. Maas said more negotiations would be needed on the issue beyond Friday's meeting in Vienna.(ANA)

FA/ANA/7 July 2018------