Tehran’s ploy to divide US and Europe flounders

▶ Iranian minister expresses dismay at EU’s failure to support oil sales

Cracks are appearing in Iran’s efforts to cleave off Europe from US policy to restore sanctions against Tehran’s nuclear programme, as a senior foreign ministry official publicly complained of a “lack of speed” in efforts to save its oil trade.

After a second phase of US sanctions swung into force on Monday, Iran has become increasing reliant on the EU to sustain trade liberalised under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that removed UN sanctions in return for nuclear concessions.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Kazem Sajjadpour revealed that Tehran placed its hopes in a belief that European appeasement of the administration of US President Donald Trump had run aground.

But the Europeans’ proposed solution through special purpose vehicle (SPV) clearing accounts that would allow trade with Iran to continue ringfenced from the threat of US sanctions had flaws, amounting to “an interesting procedure”, not a workable solution.

Mr Sajjadpour is a foreign-ministry veteran who runs the inhouse think tank that provides advice and support to the Iranian leadership and plays a key role in evaluating relationships.

“What is lacking is speed and efficiency,” he said. “What we need is quickness and a process that is results oriented. They should be more active in implementing it – it is about results.”

He said the Europeans thought it was sufficient to keep small and medium-sized businesses active in Iran “without making any noise”.

Tehran was putting its hopes in eastern trade to sustain oil revenue as the US granted waivers to non-European countries to buy Iranian crude.

“Iran is looking to Russia, China as alternatives to the US and a slow-moving Europe,” he said.

“We have to look at a diversity of interactions, not just Russia and Asia, but other pivots, too. Power is shifting globally.”

At a meeting in London’s Chatham House, Mr Sajjadpour was repeatedly challenged over Iran’s resilience to the US, making the retort that Iranian politics was independent from international pressures and, as a result, when “Washington coughs we don’t get a cold”.

He described the American approach as putting a knife at Iran’s throat, then demanding talks, and indicated that the Iranian leadership prioritised its fear of regime change over the prospect of the collapse of the economy.

“The assumption is we cut the money from the oil, then Iran will be deprived, then Iranian people will revolt, then the system will be changed, then we are fine, then the paradise will come,” he said.

The EU effort to cushion Iran’s oil sales has faltered, despite the November 4 deadline being known for weeks. It had hoped to launch the SPV mechanism by the time of the sanctions announcement, but no EU country has volunteered to host it.

Several states have dragged their feet on a request from EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to consider being the headquarters. Part of the reluctance lies in anger over a campaign of targeted assassinations carried out by Iranian agents, overseen by its European diplomatic network.

Among the eight nations granted waivers by the US to continue buying Iranian energy is Turkey, but despite the concessions, the country’s president yesterday criticised the resumption of sanctions.

Condemning a “destabilising step”, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the sanctions contravene international law.”