EU urges Trump to back Iran deal
BRUSSELS: EU powers have urged US President Donald Trump to endorse a key nuclear agreement with Iran, saying the deal is essential for international security.
Yesterday the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany threw their weight behind the pact limiting Iran’s nuclear ambitions and insisted that the Islamic Republic is respecting it.
“There is no indication today that could call into doubt Iranian respect of the agreement,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters in Brussels after a meeting between the Europeans and their Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif.
Le Drian called on all parties to uphold the agreement, noting that “our American allies should respect it as well. There is no particular reason for any rupture”.
Under the accord, Iran slowed its nuclear programme in exchange for an easing of international economic sanctions. Trump is expected to decide today whether to extend the sanctions relief or re-impose the restrictions his predecessor, president Barack Obama, suspended two years ago.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also noted that no one had put forward a plan that might be as effective in curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“It’s incumbent on those who oppose the (deal) really to come up with that better solution, because we haven’t seen it so far,” said Johnson.
Officials from major world powers and Iran meet roughly every three to four months to assess implementation of the deal, which is monitored by the world’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The pact is underpinned on the US side by a presidential waiver of nuclear-related sanctions on Iran’s central bank.
US officials and others familiar with the administration’s deliberations said Trump was likely to back the accord for now but that he might pair his decision with new, targeted sanctions on Iranian businesses and people.
The restrictions could hit some firms and individuals whose sanctions were previously scrapped. This might test Tehran’s willingness to abide by its side of the bargain.