Johnson wary of US ‘jumbo’ deal for Iran

BORIS JOHNSON has voiced strong reservations about new American plans for Iran in the wake of its decision to pull out of the agreement backed by all the major powers except the US.

New Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced 12 requirements Iran must meet to avoid US sanctions which would be “the strongest in history”.

Donald Trump’s decision to pull the US out of the 2015 agreement – which lifted economic sanctions in return for Iran ceasing its bid for a nuclear bomb – has created one of the biggest political spats between London and Washington since his election.

Britain has joined European states including Germany and France in reaffirming their commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Washington’s new demands include not only an end to uranium enrichment but a halt to support for Houthi rebels in Yemen, the withdrawal of all forces from Syria, removal of backing for ally Hezbollah and ceasing to threaten Israel.

Iran must also “release all US citizens” missing in Iran or being held on “spurious charges”, said Mr Pompeo, in his first major speech as Secretary of State.

Mr Johnson cautioned that Washington appeared to be planning to fold all of its issues of contention with Tehran into “a giant negotiation, a new jumbo Iran negotiation, a new treaty”, said the Foreign Secretary.

And he warned: “I don’t see that being very easy to achieve, in anything like a reasonable timetable.

“The advantage of the JCPOA was that it had a very clear objective. It protected the world from an Iranian nuclear bomb, and in return it gave the Iranians some recognisable economic benefits.”