Europe presses US to save Iran deal

THE UK, France and Germany are locked in “intense” talks with the US in an attempt to stop the Donald Trump administration scuppering the Iran nuclear deal.

The US president’s threat to reintroduce sanctions against Iran on May 12 threatens to disrupt his budding partnership with Emmanuel Macron, the French leader, who heads to Washington for a state visit next week.

The 2015 deal between Iran and the three European powers, the US, China and Russia gave Tehran relief from sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear programme.

The UK and France are holding regular talks as they try to come up with a plan to adapt the deal to satisfy Mr Trump’s concerns.

The deal is likely to be on the agenda during Mr Macron’s visit, and a visit next week of Angela Merkel, the German chancellor.

White House objections include the extent of the inspection programme, the 10year “sunset” clauses for limits on Iran’s nuclear activity and the exclusion of ballistic missile development.

Among the possible proposals is an extension of inspections to cover military sites, laboratories and universities, and increasing sanctions on the regime over its ballistic missile programme. An attempt to impose new sanctions on Iran earlier this week at a meeting between EU foreign ministers fell apart after Italy reportedly raised objections.

Iran has ruled out any renegotiation of the deal and has threatened to pull out over what it sees as an unstable economic environment created by Mr Trump’s criticisms of the agreement.