EU's Mogherini on Syria: It's Necessary to Stop Trying to Split Country

The European Union foreign policy chief commented Wednesday on the situation around Syria and the Iran nuclear deal in the wake of the meeting between the presidents of France and the United States on the issue.

Syrian Crisis

On Wednesday, Federica Mogherini said in a comment on the Syrian settlement that the attempts to split the war-plagued country should be stopped.

Brussels expects Moscow and Tehran, which both serve as the guarantors of the ceasefire regime in Syria, to positively contribute to the prevention of the country’s disintegration, the EU official noted.

At the same time, the sustainable settlement of the crisis in the Middle Eastern country could be reached under the UN auspices and leadership, Mogherini added.

"The European Union always tries to bridge the gaps. … We will try to find common ground and some unanimity to have all the relevant actors pushing towards an effective and meaningful political dialogue. We need, in particular, Russia, Iran to exercise pressure on Damascus so that it accepts to seat at the table under UN auspices. The opposition with whom we have been working in these years is today more united and ready to sit for negotiating," she said stressing that the sustainable peace in Syria would be linked to political process under UN auspices.

Iran nuclear deal

Speaking about the Iran nuclear deal, she said that the agreement “needs to be preserved” despite the recent statement by French President Emmanuel Macron who expressed readiness to start negotiating a new agreement with Tehran on its nuclear program.

"As for what may happen in the future, we'll see. But there is an agreement that exists, it works, it must be preserved," Mogherini argued while being interviewed upon her arrival at a donors conference on Syria in Brussels.

The remarks come in the wake of the meeting between Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, who discussed the Middle East affairs in Washington, including the Iranian nuclear deal — formerly known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – and the possible settlement of the Syrian crisis. At a joint presser, Macron said that Paris wanted to work on a new nuclear deal with Iran that would include international players like Russia and Turkey.

READ MORE: Only Goal of French Airstrikes on Syria Was to ‘Label Assad as Enemy’ – MEP

The JCPOA was signed on July 14, 2015, by the European Union, Iran and the P5+1 group (Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany) to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. The agreement stipulates that Iran doesn't seek to develop or acquire nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of sanctions imposed against Iran.

READ MORE: Russia Sees No Alternative to Nuclear Deal With Iran — Kremlin

Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the JCPOA and has threatened to withdraw Washington from the agreement if it is not amended. In January, Trump turned to Congress asking to address the flaws in the deal. He has also announced he would waive Iran sanctions, as required under the JCPOA, for the last time.