Back Trump on Iran, US tells Britain
Ambassador warns May to break with Europe and impose sanctions or face trade ‘consequences’
BRITAIN should side with Donald Trump rather than Brussels over Iran, the US ambassador to London declares today, as he calls on America’s “closest ally” to reverse its position on the controversial nuclear deal.
Writing for The Sunday Telegraph, Woody Johnson challenges the UK to abandon its European neighbours who are still backing a deal to trade with Iran and join forces with America to enforce the US president’s hard-hitting sanctions. Mr Johnson also delivers an explicit ultimatum to British companies, telling then to stop doing business with Iran or face “serious consequences” for their trade with America.
The comments are a direct challenge to Theresa May’s Government, days after a minister refused point-blank to go along with Mr Trump’s sanctions on Tehran and instead keep the 2015 nuclear agreement alive.
They also come six days after Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, signed a joint statement with the EU that promised to push ahead with blocking the impact of the sanctions on Euro- pean businesses. Mr Johnson’s comments escalate the tensions over what is the first test of the special relationship between the US and UK since Mr Trump’s successful visit to the UK last month.
Britain negotiated the original Iran deal in 2015 with France, Germany, China, Russia and the US in a process coordinated by the European Union. It saw the regime agree to curb its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions.
But Mr Trump pulled America out of the deal, which was struck by his predecessor Barack Obama, three months ago because the president believes it is not preventing Iran from meddling in the Middle East. Tougher economic sanctions were reimposed this week.
In his article, Mr Johnson writes: “America is turning up the pressure and we want the UK by our side. It is time to move on from the flawed 2015 deal. We are asking global Britain to use its considerable diplomatic power and influence and join us as we lead a concerted global effort towards a genuinely comprehensive agreement.
“Together, we can help bring about the peace and prosperity in Iran that the whole world wants to see.” Mr Johnson even goes over the head of Whitehall and urges British businesses directly to cut ties with Iran. The UK’s
‘America is turning up the pressure and we want the UK by our side. It is time we moved on from the flawed 2015 deal’
trade with Iran was £365million in 2016. Mr Johnson writes: “The president has been explicit: any businesses which put their own commercial interests in Iran ahead of the global good will risk serious consequences for their trade with the United States.
“Only by presenting a united front can we exert the maximum possible pressure on the Iranian regime and get them to finally change course and put an end to their malign and reckless activities both at home and abroad.”
The call amounts to a plea for Britain to break with its European Union partners over Iran and adopt Mr Trump’s strategy.
The UK will formally leave the EU in April next year. But last night senior government figures rejected the US demands, further deepening the policy rift between the two traditional allies.
One government minister said Mr Trump was simply throwing “red meat” to his support base, and his strategy would be counter-productive, while a Foreign Office source reiterated the UK’s support for the agreement.
The minister added: “The trouble is with this approach is that it plays into the hands of the hardliners [in Tehran]. They court this. The whole purpose of the deal was to allow big companies to go into Iran – which is crying out for infrastructure improvement.
“It is all ratcheting slightly out of control. I can’t see Britain wanting to join in with that because where it takes you into a more hardline position.
“We pride ourselves on having a better understanding of the world than most – we would urge absolute caution on this. This is not the direction of travel you want go in.”
A Foreign Office source said: “We remain committed to the deal and are open to talking with the US administration and Congress about ways we can work together to address our shared concerns about Iran’s regional activity.”
In recent months Britain has thrown its support behind a so-called “blocking statute”, implemented in Brussels, which will protect European busi- nesses from America’s sanctions on Iran. The move is an attempt to keep European companies trading with Iran, seen as a critical factor in keeping the agreement alive.
Iran has said it will stick with the deal only if it continues to enjoy the economic benefits it was promised.
In the statement signed last Monday by Jeremy Hunt, Jean-Yves Le Drian and Heiko Maas, Mr Hunt’s French and German counterparts, and Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, they say they “deeply regret” the US sanctions and “are determined to protect European economic operators engaged in legitimate business with Iran”.
Asked the following day if Britain would “go along with the US” on Iran, Alistair Burt, a Foreign Office minister, said: “We made it clear that we regard the nuclear deal as an important part of the region’s security.
“We think this is really important, sticking to a deal a number of partners have agreed to.”
Asked how British companies could be protected from the US sanctions, he added: “If a company fears legal and enforcement activity, they can be protected by EU legislation. But the practicalities might be different. Many companies won’t be affected.”
Challenged over whether the UK would “stand up” to Mr Trump, Mr Burt said: “They can expect us to do that – yes. Sometimes you need to take a stand against friends.”