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European countries to hold Iran accountable for violating nuclear deal European countries to hold Iran accountable for violating nuclear deal
(about 1 hour 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, a move that could lead to the return of United Nations sanctions on Tehran.
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. Britain, France and Germany said that they had been "left with no choice" but to make the move given Iran's announcement on Jan. 5 that it would no longer be bound by limitations on its nuclear energy program following Washington's targeted killing of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Quds Force.
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. Tehran had been gradually reducing its commitments under the deal since the United States withdrew and reimposed sanctions in 2018. With Washington threatening secondary sanctions against European businesses dealing with Iran, Tehran argued it could no longer reap the financial benefits laid out in the pact in exchange for curbing its nuclear program.
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.” By initiating the dispute mechanism, the Western European signatories begin a process within the deal that could result in a "snapback" of U.N. sanctions, although officials made clear that such an outcome is not their current intention. Instead, they appear to hope that triggering the process could help bring Iran back in line with its commitments under the 2015 agreement, which Tehran negotiated with the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China.
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. In their statement, the three Western European signatories said they would not be joining the Trump administration's campaign of "maximum pressure" against Iran.
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. "Our goal is clear," said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. "We want to maintain the agreement and come to a diplomatic solution within the agreement."
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. 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 five other signatories have stood by it, arguing that it is the best way to limit Tehran’s nuclear program.
“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. Triggering the dispute process is unlikely to satisfy the Trump administration, said Ellie Geranmayeh, an Iran expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations. A sanctions snapback would be triggered only if, after the negotiation period, a signatory then raised the dispute to the U.N. Security Council, she said, noting that there is little sign Europe has that intention.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the decision to trigger the mechanism came after “extensive consultations.” If the Security Council cannot agree on a resolution to the dispute a virtual given in light of its permanent members the agreement stipulates the snapback in sanctions.
“Our goal is clear,” he said. “We want to maintain the agreement and come to a diplomatic solution within the agreement.” “The hope in European capitals is that his process could buy time,” said Geranmayeh. The aim is “first of all to try and inject a new political environment around the nuclear deal,” she said.
Also on the minds of European diplomats will be whether the process will relieve some pressure from the United States ahead of the U.S. elections in November.
“Based on the outcome of the U.S. elections, everyone will have a better calculus of where they go next,” Geranmayeh said.
However, the Europeans will have to carefully manage the dispute process if they want the deal to survive, she said. The Trump administration could potentially try to argue that the United States, as an original signatory, has the ability to raise the dispute to the Security Council. Alternatively, it could try to pressure Britain to raise it. London is more closely aligned with its administration than Germany and France and is vulnerable to pressure as it negotiates post-Brexit trade deals.
Cracks showed in the European position on Tuesday when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for replacing the deal. In a television interview, he said 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.”
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.”
Josep Borrell Fontelles, coordinator of the dispute process, said he has received a letter from the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany referring Iran under the mechanism while calling for constructive diplomatic dialogue.
“In light of the ongoing dangerous escalations in the Middle East, the preservation of the JCPOA is now more important than ever,” he said.
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.
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