European powers line up to support Iran deal as Donald Trump considers imposing new sanctions
The EU and other world powers have repeatedly warned it would be a mistake for anyone to abandon the deal, thrashed out with Iran over 12 years by the US, Britain, France, China, Germany and Russia
European powers on Thursday insisted the 2015 deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions was working, as US President Donald Trump mulls reimposing sanctions on Tehran.
The European Union and the foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France put on a united front to defend the accord after talks in Brussels with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Trump, who has repeatedly condemned the deal and in October refused to certify Iran was complying with it, is expected to decide on Friday whether to reimpose sanctions against Tehran that were suspended under the deal.
“The deal is working, it is delivering on its main goal which means keeping the Iranian nuclear programme in check,” said Federica Mogherini, the EU’s foreign policy chief, stressing the importance of preserving an agreement she said is “making the world safer and … preventing a potential nuclear arms race in the region”.
The deal is working, it is delivering on its main goal which means keeping the Iranian nuclear programme in check
Senior officials said they “expect” Trump to extend waivers on nuclear-related sanctions on Iran Friday to keep the US in line with the agreement, though he is also expected to impose fresh measures against Iran over human rights abuses and support for foreign extremist groups.