Iran maintains pressure on Europe to buy its oil to save nuclear deal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has told his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, that Europe needs to facilitate sales of Iran's oil for the 2015 nuclear deal to remain intact, a top diplomat said Thursday.

"What Mr. Rouhani told [French President Emmanuel] Macron was that if the Europeans want to keep the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, they should create possibility for our oil sales," said Abbas Araghchi, who was a leading negotiator of the nuclear deal for Iran, speaking on state television.

In May, the US tightened sanctions on Iran by ending waivers for its top crude customers, with the White House saying it was aiming at bringing Tehran's oil exports down to zero.

Araghchi said Rouhani gave Macron two options: convincing Washington to issue new waivers or arranging a credit line backed by Iran's oil sale revenues.

"We were clear...either buy our oil or pre-purchase it in some way," Araghchi said. "If Iran's demand is realized, we will return to the JCPOA. Otherwise, our way is completely clear and we will take the steps according to the plan."