News Analysis |
The leaders of United Kingdom, Germany and France have agreed to support the Iran Nuclear Deal, which is hanging in balance since October 2017, when US President Donald Trump decertified it. According to a statement issued by British Premier Theresa May’s office, French President Emanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed that the Iran Nuclear Deal was the best way to bar the Muslim state from gaining access to the nuclear weapons.
Theresa May separately made telephone calls to her French and German counterparts, who visited Washington last week, to discuss the Iran Nuclear Deal as well as U.S tariffs, according to 10 Downing Street. “They discussed the importance of the Iran nuclear deal … as the best way of neutralizing the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, agreeing that our priority as an international community remains to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon,” May’s office said.
Besides pledging to save the Iran Nuclear Deal labeled as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the leaders expressed concerns regarding ‘important elements that the deal does not cover’. The support of three European giants might appear as a sign of relief for Tehran, however, Donald Trump still seems to be walking away from the Obama-brokered deal.
The 2015 nuclear deal was struck between Iran and the US, UK, Russia, France, China and Germany, and Barack Obama was credited for having persuaded Tehran to suspend its nuclear program.
French President Emanuel Macron landed in Washington last Monday and tried to cajole the tycoon-turned-president, respect the deal. However, after having met Trump for couple of times, with Iran nuclear deal in focus, Emanuel said it appeared likely that Trump would withdraw from the accord.
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During his White House visit, Macron also proposed signing a new deal to cover the contentious issues especially the ballistic missile testing, post-expiry scenario and influence of Iran in the Middle East. Trump hailed the idea; however, both the leaders fell short of giving any key points.
The French President seems to be pushing hard to keep the accord intact as he also had an hour-long telephonic conversation with Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian President, over the weekend. In his conversation, President Macron said talks would have to be broadened to cover three additional subjects, mentioned above.
According to an Elysee Palace statement, Macron and Rouhani agreed to save the 2015 nuclear deal. The hard-line stance opted by Trump administration seems to have irked Tehran as well. According to Iranian President’s official website, Rouhani told Macron that Iran would not accept any restrictions beyond its commitments to comply with international rules after 2025, when the deal would expire.
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Rouhani has also clarified the 40-years-old French leader that even if the US stays in the international accord, it won’t be acceptable, citing Trump administration’s recent conduct, however, he wished to cement ties with France in all areas. Macron also made a call to Vladimir Putin, Russian President, with both leaders agreeing that the nuclear deal should be implemented fully.
Besides pledging to save the Iran Nuclear Deal labeled as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the leaders expressed concerns regarding ‘important elements that the deal does not cover’.
At one end when UK, Germany and France are trying to calm down Trump’s temper to save the accord, Mike Pompeo, newly appointed US secretary of state has expressed altogether different viewpoint, visibly signaling that Washington might pull out of the deal.
In a news conference on Sunday, Pompeo hurled scathing allegations against Tehran as he set foot on the Saudi land. “It supports proxy militias and terrorist groups. It is an arms dealer to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. It supports the murderous Assad regime [in Syria] as well,” he said in strong-worded remarks.
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The 2015 nuclear deal was struck between Iran and the US, UK, Russia, France, China and Germany, and Barack Obama was credited for having persuaded Tehran to suspend its nuclear program. All the guarantors of Iran nuclear deal have called for saving the accord except Trump, who had announced in his presidential campaign that he would scrap the deal.
Rouhani has also clarified the 40-years-old French leader that even if the US stays in the international accord, it won’t be acceptable, citing Trump administration’s recent conduct, however, he wished to cement ties with France in all areas.
With this in mind, Pompeo’s recent statement that ‘The Iran deal in its current form does not provide that assurance’ implies that Trump might actually surprise the international community by tearing apart the deal.
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Although Trump will face resistance from his peers and competitors but looking at his mindset and the decisions made in last year, from Travel ban to Paris Climate Change Agreement and relocation of embassy in Israel, it might not be difficult for 45th President to impose fresh sanctions on Iran, imperiling the Middle East and Muslim community one more time.