Germany’s foreign minister made a bid to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, reassuring leaders in Tehran of Europe’s commitment to the pact and showcasing European support for Iran at a time when the Islamic Republic is locked in a high-stakes battle with Washington. 

All the formal requirements for a European payment system for barter-based trade with Iran designed to circumvent U.S. sanctions are now in place and it should be operational soon, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in Tehran on Monday, according to Euronews.

“This is an instrument of a new kind, so it’s not straightforward to operationalize it,” Maas told reporters.

“But all the formal requirements are in place now, and so I’m assuming we’ll be ready to use it in the foreseeable future.”

In an effort to protect at least some of Iran’s economy from sweeping U.S. sanctions and keep alive a nuclear deal after Washington quit, France, Britain and Germany have set up a special-purpose vehicle called Instex.

The three European Union members have been trying to get Iran to keep its commitments under the deal to cut back its nuclear program – which Washington distrusts – by helping it to circumvent the trade sanctions Washington has re-imposed.

They want Instex to meet norms for legitimate financing set by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force, even though Iran as a country is not yet fully compliant with them.

During his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Mr. Maas said Germany and other European countries want to find a way to salvage the deal.  But he said there were limits.

“We won't be able to do miracles, but we are trying as best as we can do to prevent its failure,” Maas said, according to RFE/RL.

“There is war in Syria and in Yemen, fortunately not here," Maas said. "We want to do everything we can to keep it that way for Iran.”

“Nevertheless, the tensions here in the region are worrying, and we fear that single events can trigger developments that end in violence, and we want to prevent this under all circumstances.”

"The only way to ease tensions in the region is stopping the economic war.  You may not expect that an economic war be launched against the ordinary people in Iran and then those who have launched the war and supported it remain safe.  We believe that Germany and Europe can play an important role in this regard to stop the war and we welcome that role," Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif told reporters in a joint press conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in Tehran on Monday, according to Fars News Agency (FNA).

He also said that the problems in the Middle-East are rooted in Israel's aggressive policies and the US unlimited support for these crimes.