World powers told ‘to do more’ to satisfy Iran

THE Iran nuclear deal looked in doubt yesterday as European powers failed to persuade Tehran that they would be able to compensate fully for economic losses caused by the US’s exit.

The signatories to the landmark accord met for the first time since President Donald Trump withdrew in May to discuss how they could salvage the deal in the face of a reimposition of US sanctions.

The 2015 deal saw the lifting of sanctions in return for curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Washington has since told allies they must stop buying the Opec producer’s oil from November 4 or face consequences.

The other signatories – Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia – have vowed to stay in the accord, but appear powerless to stop their companies pulling out of Iran. The pillars of the EU’s strategy are: European Investment Bank lending; a special measure to shield EU companies from US secondary sanctions; and a proposal that EU governments make direct money transfers to Iran’s central bank to avoid US penalties.

But Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president, told French President Emmanuel Macron the package fell short of their demands.

Tehran has already warned it is ready to resume uranium enrichment to 20pc “within days”.