Following an online informal meeting on Dec. 21, held at the ministerial level of Iran and the P4+1 group (Britain, France, Russia, and China plus Germany), a joint statement over the implementation of the JCPOA.

According to the statement, the members of the JCPOA reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the agreement They discussed some issues including the necessity of full and effective implementation of the agreement by all parties and the current challenges to the JCPOA.

All sides emphasized that the UN Security Council’s 2231 resolution is still fully binding as “it plays a role in regional and international peace and security”. The conferees reiterated their deep regret over the US withdrawal from the agreement.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi led the Iranian delegation in the meeting.

The meeting was held at the level of Foreign Ministry deputies and political directors of the remaining parties to the agreement formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, namely Iran, China, Russia, the UK, France, and Germany.

The Commission meeting was chaired on behalf of the European Union High Representative, Josep Borrell, by the Secretary-General of European External Action Service Helga Schmid.

The participants issued a statement saying that an unofficial meeting of JCPOA participants will be held on December 21 through video conference.

Borrel wrote about the meeting on his Twitter account saying that “Chairing today a virtual ministerial meeting of the E3/EU+2 (China France, Germany, Russia, UK) and Iran – the participants of the JCPOA – to re-emphasis our commitment to preserve the agreement.”