Stand by Trump

Donald Trump has followed up on his decision last May to withdraw from the inadequate nuclear deal that his predecessor helped to negotiate with Tehran in 2015 by imposing fresh sanctions on Iran, with more to set to follow in November. As the American ambassador to Britain writes in today’s Sunday Telegraph, far from fulfilling the widely held expectation that Iran would become a more responsible member of the international community once the deal was signed, the regime has taken the opposite approach. He invites “global Britain” to stand with the US and ensure the sanctions are fully enforced.

Washington’s robust response to Iran’s unwelcome meddling, though, has met with stiff opposition from the European signatories to the deal, which include Britain. Rather than back the US, Britain has joined France and Germany in supporting the EU’s position, which is to continue diplomatic and commercial ties with Tehran in the hope that this will lead to a change of heart on the part of the ayatollahs.

But this is a risky proposition, as Mr Trump has made it clear that Washington will act against any European company that continues to do business with Tehran. Instead of trying to defend the indefensible, the British government would be better advised to accept that Iran is a rogue state that is hostile to our national interests and should be treated as such.

With the deadline for Brexit fast approaching, now is the time for Britain to consider what its future foreign policy will look like. A refusal to join the Trump administration in taking decisive action against Iran threatens to put it on an unnecessary collision course with Washington, at a time when the nation can least afford it.