Back US on Iran, Gargash urges Europe
ALL AGREE THAT TEHRAN’S LONG-TERM NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES NEED TO BE CURBED
AUAE minister warned European powers on Tuesday that they were offering Iran a glimmer of hope by trying to keep trade flowing, but that ultimately they would fall behind the United States’ tough approach on Tehran.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain swiftly backed US President Donald Trump’s decision in May to withdraw from a 2015 international accord with Iran that curbed Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for loosening economic sanctions.
UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash told Reuters at the United Nations General Assembly he was concerned by the public differences between the remaining European signatories to the accord — France, Britain and Germany — and the United States. All of them agree that Iran’s long-term nuclear activities should be curbed, its ballistic missile programme curbed and its regional influence reigned in.
“The faster we can bridge those opinions the better,” Gargash said.
“Unfortunately the current disagreement over approach is not helpful and it is giving Iran a sort of lifeline and hope that it can skirt the various concerns that everyone has about Iran,” Gargash said. He said he believed that Trump’s pressure policy that will see tougher sanctions restored on November 5 would yield results and that within a year Iran could be at the negotiating table.
Rouhani rejects talks offer
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused the United States on Tuesday of trying to overthrow his government, rejecting bilateral talks after President Donald Trump denounced Iran’s leaders and predicted stepped-up US sanctions would get Tehran to negotiate over its nuclear program.
Addressing world leaders at the UN General Assembly, Rouhani accused the Trump administration of violating the rules of international law and “state obligations” from the Obama administration by withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran signed with the US and five other major powers.
“On what basis and criteria can we enter into an agreement with an administration misbehaving such as this?” Rouhani asked. “It is ironic that the US government does not even conceal its plan for overthrowing the same government it invites to talks.”