Paris (Reuters) - The West must ensure the Iran 2015 nuclear deal succeeds before trying to negotiate other issues, a senior Iranian official said in a rare public suggestion Tehran could discuss matters such as its regional activities or missile program with world powers.

“Now they ask Iran to enter discussions on other issues. Our answer is clear: Make the (deal) a successful experience and then we discuss other issues,” Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told a conference in Paris on Thursday, referring to the United States and its European allies.

It was not immediately clear whether Araqchi’s suggestion was in complete alignment with powerful hardliners in the Islamic Republic’s factionalised governing institutions who are intensely suspicious of any talks with the West.

Araqchi added that the Iran policy of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration was “destructive” and violated the terms of the nuclear deal with six world powers.

With Trump warning of a last chance for “the worst deal ever negotiated”, Britain, France and Germany are working on a plan to satisfy him by addressing Iran’s ballistic missile tests and its regional influence while preserving the 2015 accord.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a Euromoney conference in Paris, Araqchi said there was no link between its influence in the Middle East region and the accord, under which Iran restricted its production of enriched uranium - a potential source of nuclear bombs as well as civilian energy - in exchange for a removal of international sanctions.

Iran has repeatedly refused to discuss its missile program as demanded by the United States and the Europeans, saying it is purely defensive in nature.

The Islamic Republic says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and that it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it, but will “shred” the deal if Washington pulls out.

Araqchi dismissed Western assertions that Iran’s regional activities are destabilising. He accused the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia of fomenting tensions in the Middle East.

“We have always fought against terrorism. Iran has always played a key role in bringing stability and peace to the region ... There is no link between the (nuclear) deal and our role in the region,” Araqchi, who was also a senior negotiator in the Iran nuclear talks, told Reuters.

Trump’s ultimatum has effectively put the deal on life support until mid-May.

Speaking at the same conference, Britain’s Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said European powers were determined to save the agreement and assuage the United States, but he warned that Iran also needed to mitigate Western concerns over its regional activities.

“We and our European partners are absolutely clear. We want the deal to succeed,” Burt said. “We don’t want to see the JCPOA (deal with Iran) go down and are working with our European partners to mitigate concerns the United States may have to ensure it continues.”

Negotiations between Europeans and the U.S. officials to meet Trump’s conditions are ongoing.

The first challenge the Europeans face is dissecting divergent U.S. statements about what Trump wants to keep issuing “waivers” to U.S. sanctions. Without the waivers, which expire May 12, the U.S. sanctions return, effectively killing the deal.

“Iran also needs to avoid taking actions which threaten regional security,” Burt said, pointing to claims that Tehran has supplied ballistic missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country’s almost seven-year-old civil war, Shi‘ite Muslim militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

“Iran has always played a key role in establishing peace, restoring security and fighting against terrorism across the region,” Araqchi said. “Policies of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States have led to crises and wars in the Middle East.”</s>Paris (Reuters) - The West must ensure the Iran 2015 nuclear deal succeeds before trying to negotiate other issues, a senior Iranian official said in a rare public suggestion Tehran could discuss matters such as its regional activities or missile programme with world powers.

“Now they ask Iran to enter discussions on other issues. Our answer is clear: Make the (deal) a successful experience and then we discuss other issues,” Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told a conference in Paris on Thursday, referring to the United States and its European allies.

It was not immediately clear whether Araqchi’s suggestion was in complete alignment with powerful hardliners in the Islamic Republic’s factionalised governing institutions who are intensely suspicious of any talks with the West.

Araqchi added that the Iran policy of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration was “destructive” and violated the terms of the nuclear deal with six world powers.

With Trump warning of a last chance for “the worst deal ever negotiated”, Britain, France and Germany are working on a plan to satisfy him by addressing Iran’s ballistic missile tests and its regional influence while preserving the 2015 accord.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a Euromoney conference in Paris, Araqchi said there was no link between its influence in the Middle East region and the accord, under which Iran restricted its production of enriched uranium - a potential source of nuclear bombs as well as civilian energy - in exchange for a removal of international sanctions.

Iran has repeatedly refused to discuss its missile programme as demanded by the United States and the Europeans, saying it is purely defensive in nature.

The Islamic Republic says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes and that it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it, but will “shred” the deal if Washington pulls out.

Araqchi dismissed Western assertions that Iran’s regional activities are destabilising. He accused the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia of fomenting tensions in the Middle East.

“We have always fought against terrorism. Iran has always played a key role in bringing stability and peace to the region ... There is no link between the (nuclear) deal and our role in the region,” Araqchi, who was also a senior negotiator in the Iran nuclear talks, told Reuters.

Trump’s ultimatum has effectively put the deal on life support until mid-May.

Speaking at the same conference, Britain’s Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said European powers were determined to save the agreement and assuage the United States, but he warned that Iran also needed to mitigate Western concerns over its regional activities.

“We and our European partners are absolutely clear. We want the deal to succeed,” Burt said. “We don’t want to see the JCPOA (deal with Iran) go down and are working with our European partners to mitigate concerns the United States may have to ensure it continues.”

Negotiations between Europeans and the U.S. officials to meet Trump’s conditions are ongoing.

The first challenge the Europeans face is dissecting divergent U.S. statements about what Trump wants to keep issuing “waivers” to U.S. sanctions. Without the waivers, which expire May 12, the U.S. sanctions return, effectively killing the deal.

“Iran also needs to avoid taking actions which threaten regional security,” Burt said, pointing to claims that Tehran has supplied ballistic missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country’s almost seven-year-old civil war, Shi‘ite Muslim militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

“Iran has always played a key role in establishing peace, restoring security and fighting against terrorism across the region,” Araqchi said. “Policies of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States have led to crises and wars in the Middle East.”</s>Paris: The United States and its European allies should ensure the 2015 nuclear deal is a success before demanding to negotiate on other issues such as Tehran's regional activities or ballistic missile programme, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Thursday.

"Now they ask Iran to enter discussions on other issues. Our answer is clear: make the (deal) a successful experience and then we discuss other issues," Abbas Araqchi told a conference.

He said the new U.S. administration's policy on Iran was "destructive" and violated the terms of the accord with world powers.

With U.S. President Donald Trump warning of a last chance for "the worst deal ever negotiated", Britain, France and Germany are working on a plan to satisfy him by addressing Iran's ballistic missile tests and its regional influence while preserving the 2015 accord.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a Euromoney conference in Paris, Araqchi said there was no link between its influence in the Middle East region and the nuclear accord with major powers.

Iran has repeatedly refused to discuss its missile programme as demanded by the United States and the Europeans, saying it is purely defensive.

Tehran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and that it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it, but will “shred” the deal if Washington pulls out.

Araqchi dismissed Western assertions that Iran's regional activities are destabilising. He accused the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia of fomenting tensions in the Middle East.

"We have always fought against terrorism. Iran has always played a key role in bringing stability and peace to the region ... There is no link between the (nuclear) deal and our role in the region," Araqchi, also a senior negotiator in the Iran nuclear talks, told Reuters.

Trump's ultimatum has effectively put the deal on life support until mid-May.

Speaking at the same conference, Britain's Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said European powers were determined to save the deal and assuage the United States, but he warned that Iran also needed to mitigate Western concerns over its regional activities.

"We and our European partners are absolutely clear. We want the deal to succeed," Burt said. "We don't want to see the JCPOA (deal with Iran) go down and are working with our European partners to mitigate concerns the United States may have to ensure it continues."

Negotiations between Europeans and the U.S. officials to meet Trump's conditions are ongoing.

The first challenge the Europeans face is dissecting divergent U.S. statements about what Trump wants to keep issuing "waivers" to U.S. sanctions. Without the waivers, which expire May 12, the U.S. sanctions return, effectively killing the deal.

"Iran also needs to avoid taking actions which threaten regional security," Burt said specifically pointing to claims that Tehran has supplied ballistic missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran has denied those allegations and has repeatedly said its missile programme is purely defensive.

Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war, Shi'ite militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

"Iran has always played a key role in establishing peace, restoring security and fighting against terrorism across the region," Araqchi said. "Policies of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States have led to crises and wars in the Middle East."</s>PARIS (Reuters) - The European Union could put in place regulations to protect its firms doing business in Iran if the United States withdraws from the 2015 nuclear deal and restores extraterritorial sanctions, a senior EU official said on Thursday.

FILE PHOTO: Iran's national flags are seen on a square in Tehran February 10, 2012, a day before the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl/File Photo -

European countries have been looking to increase trade with Iran since Paris, Washington and other world powers agreed to lift most economic sanctions in 2016 in exchange for limitations on Tehran’s nuclear program.

But U.S. President Donald Trump on Jan. 12 vowed to restore U.S. sanctions unless France, Britain and Germany change what he calls the “worst deal ever” to his liking, effectively putting it on life support until mid-May.

While European nations have been adamant that they would stick to the deal should Washington pull out, Europe would need to find ways to limit any impact from possible U.S. sanctions to ensure their firms continue to do business with Tehran.

Denis Chaibi, head of the Iranian taskforce at the EU’s external action service, said one of the options would be to restore “blocking regulations”, a system from 1996 that would protect its firms.

“We are looking at a number of possibilities. It is not complicated to do it legally in that the legal instrument exists, but it doesn’t require a huge internal debate,” Chaibi told a Euromoney conference in Paris.

The regulations were agreed in 1996 as a countermeasure to the U.S. extraterritorial economic sanctions against Cuba, which EU governments argued benefited U.S. foreign policy interests at the expense of European sovereignty.

“It could be revived or put back, but only if it is clear that the U.S. is putting back sanctions with extraterritorial sanctions and that they are being applied. It can’t be done protectively,” he said.

The so-called extra-territoriality of U.S. sanctions law, which apply to foreign firms carrying out transactions in U.S. dollars even if the operations involve non-U.S. branches, allowed U.S. authorities to fine French lender BNP Paribas nearly $9 billion (5.34 billion pounds) in 2014.

Fears of such fines have been one reason preventing major international lenders and firms from returning.

Iranian officials have repeatedly said reluctance of major European banks to return to Iran has slowed its economic improvement, calling on European leaders to encourage businesses to return to Iran.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has praised European signatories of the deal for trying to keep it alive, but has demanded tangible reaction if the United States pulls out of the accord.

The European External Action Service (EEAS), set up in 2009, runs a network of diplomats around the globe, drafts policy papers for EU foreign ministers and is led by the EU’s top diplomat Federica Mogherini.</s>A senior Iranian official says the West must ensure that the 2015 nuclear deal is a success before his country can begin to discuss other issues affecting the Middle East region.

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told a conference in Paris on February 8 that key to future negotiations on matters such as Tehran's regional activities and its missile program is to honor the terms of the nuclear accord, from which the United States has threatened to withdraw.

"Now they ask Iran to enter discussions on other issues. Our answer is clear: Make the [nuclear accord] a successful experience and then we discuss other issues," he said.

He added that U.S. President Donald Trump's policies toward Iran were "destructive" and violated the terms of the nuclear deal with six world powers – the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia.

Araqchi rejected claims that Tehran’s activities were destabilizing the region and accused the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia of fomenting tensions in the Middle East.

"We have always fought against terrorism. Iran has always played a key role in bringing stability and peace to the region...There is no link between the deal and our role in the region," he said.

 

 It was not immediately clear whether Araqchi’s comments and willingness to eventually negotiate with the West on other issues had the backing of Iran’s hard-line religious leaders who control government policy.

Tehran has repeatedly refused to discuss its missile program despite demands by the United States and the Europeans, claiming it is purely defensive in nature.

U.S. and other officials have complained that Iran's ballistic-missile program can easily be converted for nuclear use.

The United States suspended sanctions against Iran following the 2015 nuclear agreement, which provided Tehran with relief from financial sanctions in return for limits on Tehran's nuclear program.

However, the United States still imposes punitive measures over issues such as ballistic-missile development, terrorism, and human rights.

Trump has accused Iran of violating the “spirit” of the nuclear accord and has said he wants to work with European allies and Congress to fix what he called "disastrous flaws" in the accord, which was signed under his predecessor, Barack Obama.

Trump warned that Washington would withdraw from the deal if terms were not strengthened by May.

Britain's minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said at the same Paris conference that European powers were determined to save the agreement and to work to address U.S. concerns, but he warned that Iran also needs to mitigate Western concerns over its regional activities.

"We and our European partners are absolutely clear. We want the deal to succeed," Burt said. "We don't want to see the [deal] go down, and are working with our European partners to mitigate concerns the United States may have to ensure it continues."

With reporting by Reuters and Arab News</s>The West must ensure the Iran 2015 nuclear deal succeeds before trying to negotiate other issues, a senior Iranian official said in a rare public suggestion Tehran could discuss matters such as its regional activities or missile program with world powers.

"Now they ask Iran to enter discussions on other issues. Our answer is clear: Make the [deal] a successful experience and then we discuss other issues," Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told a conference in Paris on Thursday, referring to the United States and its European allies.

It was not immediately clear whether Araqchi's suggestion was in complete alignment with powerful hardliners in the Islamic Republic's factionalized governing institutions who are intensely suspicious of any talks with the West.

Araqchi added that the Iran policy of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration was "destructive" and violated the terms of the nuclear deal with six world powers.

With Trump warning of a last chance for "the worst deal ever negotiated," Britain, France and Germany are working on a plan to satisfy him by addressing Iran's ballistic missile tests and its regional influence while preserving the 2015 accord.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a Euromoney conference in Paris, Araqchi said there was no link between its influence in the Middle East region and the accord, under which Iran restricted its production of enriched uranium — a potential source of nuclear bombs as well as civilian energy — in exchange for a removal of international sanctions.

Iran has repeatedly refused to discuss its missile program as demanded by the United States and the Europeans, saying it is purely defensive in nature.

The Islamic Republic says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and that it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it, but will "shred" the deal if Washington pulls out.

Araqchi dismissed Western assertions that Iran's regional activities are destabilizing. He accused the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia of fomenting tensions in the Middle East.

"We have always fought against terrorism. Iran has always played a key role in bringing stability and peace to the region. ... There is no link between the [nuclear] deal and our role in the region," Araqchi, who was also a senior negotiator in the Iran nuclear talks, told Reuters.

Trump's ultimatum has effectively put the deal on life support until mid-May.

Speaking at the same conference, Britain's Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said European powers were determined to save the agreement and assuage the United States, but he warned that Iran also needed to mitigate Western concerns over its regional activities.

"We and our European partners are absolutely clear. We want the deal to succeed," Burt said. "We don't want to see the JCPOA [deal with Iran] go down and are working with our European partners to mitigate concerns the United States may have to ensure it continues."

Negotiations between Europeans and the U.S. officials to meet Trump's conditions are ongoing.

The first challenge the Europeans face is dissecting divergent U.S. statements about what Trump wants to keep issuing "waivers" to U.S. sanctions. Without the waivers, which expire May 12, the U.S. sanctions return, effectively killing the deal.

"Iran also needs to avoid taking actions which threaten regional security," Burt said, pointing to claims that Tehran has supplied ballistic missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's almost seven-year-old civil war, Shiite Muslim militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

"Iran has always played a key role in establishing peace, restoring security and fighting against terrorism across the region," Araqchi said. "Policies of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States have led to crises and wars in the Middle East."</s>Paris (Reuters) - The West must ensure the Iran 2015 nuclear deal succeeds before trying to negotiate other issues, a senior Iranian official said in a rare public suggestion Tehran could discuss matters such as its regional activities or missile program with world powers.

“Now they ask Iran to enter discussions on other issues. Our answer is clear: Make the (deal) a successful experience and then we discuss other issues,” Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told a conference in Paris on Thursday, referring to the United States and its European allies.

It was not immediately clear whether Araqchi’s suggestion was in complete alignment with powerful hardliners in the Islamic Republic’s factionalized governing institutions who are intensely suspicious of any talks with the West.

Araqchi added that the Iran policy of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration was “destructive” and violated the terms of the nuclear deal with six world powers.

With Trump warning of a last chance for “the worst deal ever negotiated”, Britain, France and Germany are working on a plan to satisfy him by addressing Iran’s ballistic missile tests and its regional influence while preserving the 2015 accord.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a Euromoney conference in Paris, Araqchi said there was no link between its influence in the Middle East region and the accord, under which Iran restricted its production of enriched uranium - a potential source of nuclear bombs as well as civilian energy - in exchange for a removal of international sanctions.

Iran has repeatedly refused to discuss its missile program as demanded by the United States and the Europeans, saying it is purely defensive in nature.

The Islamic Republic says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and that it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it, but will “shred” the deal if Washington pulls out.

Araqchi dismissed Western assertions that Iran’s regional activities are destabilizing. He accused the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia of fomenting tensions in the Middle East.

“We have always fought against terrorism. Iran has always played a key role in bringing stability and peace to the region ... There is no link between the (nuclear) deal and our role in the region,” Araqchi, who was also a senior negotiator in the Iran nuclear talks, told Reuters.

Trump’s ultimatum has effectively put the deal on life support until mid-May.

Speaking at the same conference, Britain’s Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said European powers were determined to save the agreement and assuage the United States, but he warned that Iran also needed to mitigate Western concerns over its regional activities.

“We and our European partners are absolutely clear. We want the deal to succeed,” Burt said. “We don’t want to see the JCPOA (deal with Iran) go down and are working with our European partners to mitigate concerns the United States may have to ensure it continues.”

Negotiations between Europeans and the U.S. officials to meet Trump’s conditions are ongoing.

The first challenge the Europeans face is dissecting divergent U.S. statements about what Trump wants to keep issuing “waivers” to U.S. sanctions. Without the waivers, which expire May 12, the U.S. sanctions return, effectively killing the deal.

“Iran also needs to avoid taking actions which threaten regional security,” Burt said, pointing to claims that Tehran has supplied ballistic missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country’s almost seven-year-old civil war, Shi‘ite Muslim militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

“Iran has always played a key role in establishing peace, restoring security and fighting against terrorism across the region,” Araqchi said. “Policies of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States have led to crises and wars in the Middle East.”</s>Paris: The United States and its European allies should ensure the 2015 nuclear deal is a success before demanding to negotiate on other issues such as Tehran's regional activities or ballistic missile programme, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Thursday.

"Now they ask Iran to enter discussions on other issues. Our answer is clear: make the (deal) a successful experience and then we discuss other issues," Abbas Araqchi told a conference.

He said the new U.S. administration's policy on Iran was "destructive" and violated the terms of the accord with world powers.

With U.S. President Donald Trump warning of a last chance for "the worst deal ever negotiated", Britain, France and Germany are working on a plan to satisfy him by addressing Iran's ballistic missile tests and its regional influence while preserving the 2015 accord.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a Euromoney conference in Paris, Araqchi said there was no link between its influence in the Middle East region and the nuclear accord with major powers.

Iran has repeatedly refused to discuss its missile programme as demanded by the United States and the Europeans, saying it is purely defensive.

Tehran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and that it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it, but will “shred” the deal if Washington pulls out.

Araqchi dismissed Western assertions that Iran's regional activities are destabilising. He accused the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia of fomenting tensions in the Middle East.

"We have always fought against terrorism. Iran has always played a key role in bringing stability and peace to the region ... There is no link between the (nuclear) deal and our role in the region," Araqchi, also a senior negotiator in the Iran nuclear talks, told Reuters.

Trump's ultimatum has effectively put the deal on life support until mid-May.

Speaking at the same conference, Britain's Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said European powers were determined to save the deal and assuage the United States, but he warned that Iran also needed to mitigate Western concerns over its regional activities.

"We and our European partners are absolutely clear. We want the deal to succeed," Burt said. "We don't want to see the JCPOA (deal with Iran) go down and are working with our European partners to mitigate concerns the United States may have to ensure it continues."

Negotiations between Europeans and the U.S. officials to meet Trump's conditions are ongoing.

The first challenge the Europeans face is dissecting divergent U.S. statements about what Trump wants to keep issuing "waivers" to U.S. sanctions. Without the waivers, which expire May 12, the U.S. sanctions return, effectively killing the deal.

"Iran also needs to avoid taking actions which threaten regional security," Burt said specifically pointing to claims that Tehran has supplied ballistic missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran has denied those allegations and has repeatedly said its missile programme is purely defensive.

Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war, Shi'ite militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

"Iran has always played a key role in establishing peace, restoring security and fighting against terrorism across the region," Araqchi said. "Policies of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States have led to crises and wars in the Middle East."</s>Paris (Reuters) - The West must ensure the Iran 2015 nuclear deal succeeds before trying to negotiate other issues, a senior Iranian official said in a rare public suggestion Tehran could discuss matters such as its regional activities or missile program with world powers.

“Now they ask Iran to enter discussions on other issues. Our answer is clear: Make the (deal) a successful experience and then we discuss other issues,” Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told a conference in Paris on Thursday, referring to the United States and its European allies.

It was not immediately clear whether Araqchi’s suggestion was in complete alignment with powerful hardliners in the Islamic Republic’s factionalized governing institutions who are intensely suspicious of any talks with the West.

Araqchi added that the Iran policy of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration was “destructive” and violated the terms of the nuclear deal with six world powers.

With Trump warning of a last chance for “the worst deal ever negotiated”, Britain, France and Germany are working on a plan to satisfy him by addressing Iran’s ballistic missile tests and its regional influence while preserving the 2015 accord.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a Euromoney conference in Paris, Araqchi said there was no link between its influence in the Middle East region and the accord, under which Iran restricted its production of enriched uranium - a potential source of nuclear bombs as well as civilian energy - in exchange for a removal of international sanctions.

Iran has repeatedly refused to discuss its missile program as demanded by the United States and the Europeans, saying it is purely defensive in nature.

The Islamic Republic says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and that it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it, but will “shred” the deal if Washington pulls out.

Araqchi dismissed Western assertions that Iran’s regional activities are destabilizing. He accused the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia of fomenting tensions in the Middle East.

“We have always fought against terrorism. Iran has always played a key role in bringing stability and peace to the region ... There is no link between the (nuclear) deal and our role in the region,” Araqchi, who was also a senior negotiator in the Iran nuclear talks, told Reuters.

Trump’s ultimatum has effectively put the deal on life support until mid-May.

Speaking at the same conference, Britain’s Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said European powers were determined to save the agreement and assuage the United States, but he warned that Iran also needed to mitigate Western concerns over its regional activities.

“We and our European partners are absolutely clear. We want the deal to succeed,” Burt said. “We don’t want to see the JCPOA (deal with Iran) go down and are working with our European partners to mitigate concerns the United States may have to ensure it continues.”

Negotiations between Europeans and the U.S. officials to meet Trump’s conditions are ongoing.

The first challenge the Europeans face is dissecting divergent U.S. statements about what Trump wants to keep issuing “waivers” to U.S. sanctions. Without the waivers, which expire May 12, the U.S. sanctions return, effectively killing the deal.

“Iran also needs to avoid taking actions which threaten regional security,” Burt said, pointing to claims that Tehran has supplied ballistic missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country’s almost seven-year-old civil war, Shi‘ite Muslim militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

“Iran has always played a key role in establishing peace, restoring security and fighting against terrorism across the region,” Araqchi said. “Policies of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States have led to crises and wars in the Middle East.”</s>Paris, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The West must ensure the Iran 2015 nuclear deal succeeds before trying to negotiate other issues, a senior Iranian official said in a rare public suggestion Tehran could discuss matters such as its regional activities or missile program with world powers.

"Now they ask Iran to enter discussions on other issues. Our answer is clear: Make the (deal) a successful experience and then we discuss other issues," Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told a conference in Paris on Thursday, referring to the United States and its European allies.

It was not immediately clear whether Araqchi´s suggestion was in complete alignment with powerful hardliners in the Islamic Republic's factionalised governing institutions who are intensely suspicious of any talks with the West.

Araqchi added that the Iran policy of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration was "destructive" and violated the terms of the nuclear deal with six world powers.

With Trump warning of a last chance for "the worst deal ever negotiated", Britain, France and Germany are working on a plan to satisfy him by addressing Iran's ballistic missile tests and its regional influence while preserving the 2015 accord.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a Euromoney conference in Paris, Araqchi said there was no link between its influence in the Middle East region and the accord, under which Iran restricted its production of enriched uranium - a potential source of nuclear bombs as well as civilian energy - in exchange for a removal of international sanctions.

Iran has repeatedly refused to discuss its missile program as demanded by the United States and the Europeans, saying it is purely defensive in nature.

The Islamic Republic says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and that it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it, but will "shred" the deal if Washington pulls out.

Araqchi dismissed Western assertions that Iran's regional activities are destabilising. He accused the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia of fomenting tensions in the Middle East.

"We have always fought against terrorism. Iran has always played a key role in bringing stability and peace to the region ... There is no link between the (nuclear) deal and our role in the region," Araqchi, who was also a senior negotiator in the Iran nuclear talks, told Reuters.

Trump's ultimatum has effectively put the deal on life support until mid-May.

Speaking at the same conference, Britain's Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said European powers were determined to save the agreement and assuage the United States, but he warned that Iran also needed to mitigate Western concerns over its regional activities.

"We and our European partners are absolutely clear. We want the deal to succeed," Burt said. "We don't want to see the JCPOA (deal with Iran) go down and are working with our European partners to mitigate concerns the United States may have to ensure it continues."

Negotiations between Europeans and the U.S. officials to meet Trump's conditions are ongoing.

The first challenge the Europeans face is dissecting divergent U.S. statements about what Trump wants to keep issuing "waivers" to U.S. sanctions. Without the waivers, which expire May 12, the U.S. sanctions return, effectively killing the deal.

"Iran also needs to avoid taking actions which threaten regional security," Burt said, pointing to claims that Tehran has supplied ballistic missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's almost seven-year-old civil war, Shi'ite Muslim militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

"Iran has always played a key role in establishing peace, restoring security and fighting against terrorism across the region," Araqchi said. "Policies of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States have led to crises and wars in the Middle East." (Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and William Maclean/Mark Heinrich)
A senior European External Action Service official says that the European Union, in order to protect its companies doing business with Iran, could implement "blocking regulations" based on a legal framework set up in 1996 for E.U. trade with Cuba, should the United States pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal and restore its sanctions.