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| European countries to hold Iran accountable for violating nuclear deal | European countries to hold Iran accountable for violating nuclear deal |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| BERLIN — European countries on Tuesday triggered a dispute mechanism in their nuclear deal with Iran, citing Tehran's decision to ignore limitations on its nuclear energy program. | BERLIN — European countries on Tuesday triggered a dispute mechanism in their nuclear deal with Iran, citing Tehran's decision to ignore limitations on its nuclear energy program. |
| Iran said it would not comply with any restrictions on enriching uranium after Washington’s targeted killing of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani on Jan. 3. It had gradually reduced its commitments under the deal since the United States withdrew and reimposed sanctions in 2018. | Iran said it would not comply with any restrictions on enriching uranium after Washington’s targeted killing of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani on Jan. 3. It had gradually reduced its commitments under the deal since the United States withdrew and reimposed sanctions in 2018. |
| In a joint statement Tuesday, Britain, France and Germany reiterated their regret at the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. They said they had “sought to persuade Iran to change course” and “worked hard” to address its concerns. | In a joint statement Tuesday, Britain, France and Germany reiterated their regret at the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. They said they had “sought to persuade Iran to change course” and “worked hard” to address its concerns. |
| However, the European countries said they now have “been left with no choice, given Iran’s actions, but to register today our concerns that Iran is not meeting its commitments.” | However, the European countries said they now have “been left with no choice, given Iran’s actions, but to register today our concerns that Iran is not meeting its commitments.” |
| Triggering the dispute mechanism could pave the way for the return of United Nations sanctions on Iran, but the statement said the European countries remain committed to preserving the deal and would not join Washington’s campaign of “maximum pressure” against Tehran. | Triggering the dispute mechanism could pave the way for the return of United Nations sanctions on Iran, but the statement said the European countries remain committed to preserving the deal and would not join Washington’s campaign of “maximum pressure” against Tehran. |
| President Trump has repeatedly called on European allies to withdraw from the Obama-era deal, which he railed against during his 2016 presidential campaign. However, the deal’s three Western European signatories, as well as Russia and China, have stood by it, arguing that it is the best way to put limits on Tehran’s nuclear program. | President Trump has repeatedly called on European allies to withdraw from the Obama-era deal, which he railed against during his 2016 presidential campaign. However, the deal’s three Western European signatories, as well as Russia and China, have stood by it, arguing that it is the best way to put limits on Tehran’s nuclear program. |
| British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday that the White House’s main issue with the nuclear deal is that it is “flawed” but also that it was signed by President Barack Obama. | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday that the White House’s main issue with the nuclear deal is that it is “flawed” but also that it was signed by President Barack Obama. |
| “If we’re going to get rid of it, let’s replace it, and let’s replace it with the Trump deal,” he told BBC Breakfast. | “If we’re going to get rid of it, let’s replace it, and let’s replace it with the Trump deal,” he told BBC Breakfast. |
| German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the decision to trigger the mechanism came after “extensive consultations.” | German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the decision to trigger the mechanism came after “extensive consultations.” |
| “Our goal is clear,” he said. “We want to maintain the agreement and come to a diplomatic solution within the agreement.” | “Our goal is clear,” he said. “We want to maintain the agreement and come to a diplomatic solution within the agreement.” |
| Russia has remained vocally committed to the deal and has urged Europe to do more to save it. Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of the Russian parliament, said Europe should also call on the United States to abide by its commitments under the agreement. | Russia has remained vocally committed to the deal and has urged Europe to do more to save it. Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of the Russian parliament, said Europe should also call on the United States to abide by its commitments under the agreement. |
| “Given Western logic, it turns out that no matter what happens with the JCPOA, Iran should observe it, and if it fails to honor it, it shall be the only party to blame,” he wrote on Facebook. “This is dubious logic, to put it mildly. The U.S. is apparently using and enjoying this impunity in its little unipolar world it has created.” | “Given Western logic, it turns out that no matter what happens with the JCPOA, Iran should observe it, and if it fails to honor it, it shall be the only party to blame,” he wrote on Facebook. “This is dubious logic, to put it mildly. The U.S. is apparently using and enjoying this impunity in its little unipolar world it has created.” |
| Isabelle Khurshudyan in Moscow and Quentin Ariès in Brussels contributed to this report. | Isabelle Khurshudyan in Moscow and Quentin Ariès in Brussels contributed to this report. |
| What is the Iran nuclear deal, and why do some fear Trump’s rejection of it could lead to war? | |
| Full text of the Iran nuclear deal | |
| Trump pulls United States out of Iran nuclear deal, calling the pact ‘an embarrassment’ | |
| Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world |
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