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Friday, January 12, 2018
European powers urge Trump to preserve Iran nuclear deal
January 11, 2018 / 10:12 AM / Updated 19 hours ago
European powers urge Trump to preserve Iran nuclear deal
BRUSSELS
(Reuters) - Britain, France and Germany called on Donald Trump on
Thursday to uphold a pact curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions on the eve of
a sanctions ruling by the U.S. president they fear could torpedo an
accord he has relentlessly criticized. Hailed
by its admirers as key to stopping Iran from building a nuclear bomb,
the deal lifted economic sanctions in exchange for Tehran limiting its
nuclear program. It was also signed by China, France, Russia, Britain,
Germany and the European Union. The U.S. Congress requires the
president to periodically certify Iran’s compliance and issue a waiver
to allow U.S sanctions to remain suspended. The next deadline is on
Friday. In sharp contrast to Trump’s view that the 2015 pact was
“the worst deal ever negotiated”, the foreign ministers of the three
countries and the EU’s top diplomat said there was no alternative to it
and that sanctions should remain lifted. “We agree on this
approach, we want to protect (the deal) against every possible decision
that might undermine it,” Germany’s Sigmar Gabriel said alongside his
French and British counterparts and EU foreign policy chief Federica
Mogherini after meeting Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. “It
is absolutely necessary to have this to prevent the development of
nuclear weapons at a time when other parts of the world are discussing
how to get them,” Gabriel said, later specifically mentioning North
Korea in his remarks. Trump’s choice comes at a delicate time for
Iran’s government, which faced protests over economic hardships and
corruption that are linked to frustration among younger Iranians who
hoped to see more benefits from the lifting of sanctions. The
meeting in Brussels was choreographed to send a message to Washington
before Trump is due to decide whether to re-impose oil sanctions lifted
under the deal. If that happens, Iran has said it would no longer be
bound by the pact and could return to producing enriched uranium. Zarif
tweeted that the Brussels meeting had shown a “strong consensus” that
Iran was complying with the pact, had the right to enjoy its economic
benefits and “any move that undermines (it) is unacceptable”. “E3
(Germany, France and Britain) and EU fully aware that Iran’s continued
compliance (is) conditioned on full compliance by the US,” Zarif added.
Britain's
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson attends a news conference with French
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel
and European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini after
meeting Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (unseen) in
Brussels, Belgium January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
European
countries have benefited from renewed trade with Iran as sanctions have
been lifted, while U.S. companies are still largely barred from doing
business with the Islamic Republic due to other sanctions unrelated to
the nuclear issue.. “GOOD NEIGHBOUR” “The deal is working.
It is delivering on its main goal which means keeping the Iranian
nuclear program in check and under close surveillance,” Mogherini said,
adding that the International Atomic Energy Agency had shown in nine
reports that Iran is meeting its commitments. British Foreign
Secretary Boris Johnson said the pact was also a way for Iran to show it
was “a good neighbour” in the region by complying.
Trump formally rejected the deal in October, although the United States has not yet pulled out. That
major shift in U.S. policy put the United States at odds with its
European allies, as well as Russia and China that are also signatories
to the nuclear accord, in the most visible transatlantic split on
foreign policy since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. European
governments are troubled by Trump’s “America first” rhetoric and
inconsistent statements on NATO and the European Union, while they
consider the Iran nuclear deal one of West’s the biggest diplomatic
achievements in decades. In a gesture to Trump, France’s Foreign
Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Paris shared Washington’s concerns
about Iran’s ballistic missile program and involvement in wars in Yemen
and Syria, but stressed the nuclear deal should still stand. “We
do not hide other disagreements, which exist ... both in the ballistic
field and over Iran’s actions in the whole region,” Le Drian said. Tehran
has repeatedly vowed to continue building up its ballistic missile
arsenal, one of the biggest in the Middle East, saying it is for defense
purposes only. The West sees it as a threat and has installed a
U.S.-built missile shield in southeastern Europe, under NATO command. Gabriel
said Zarif agreed at the Brussels meeting to discuss the issues in a
more regular and structured way, but diplomats said there was no
immediate timetable for talks.
Additional reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek and Peter Maushagen; Editing by Robin Pomeroy, William Maclean
Betty MacDonald Fan Club, founded by Wolfgang Hampel, has members in 40 countries.
Wolfgang Hampel, author of Betty MacDonald biography interviewed Betty MacDonald's family and friends. His Interviews have been published on CD and DVD by Betty MacDonald Fan Club. If you are interested in the Betty MacDonald Biography or the Betty MacDonald Interviews send us a mail, please.
Several original Interviews with Betty MacDonald are available.
We are also organizing international Betty MacDonald Fan Club Events for example, Betty MacDonald Fan Club Eurovision Song Contest Meetings in Oslo and Düsseldorf, Royal Wedding Betty MacDonald Fan Club Event in Stockholm and Betty MacDonald Fan Club Fifa Worldcup Conferences in South Africa and Germany.
Betty MacDonald Fan Club Honour Members are Monica Sone, author of Nisei Daughter and described as Kimi in Betty MacDonald's The Plague and I, Betty MacDonald's nephew, artist and writer Darsie Beck, Betty MacDonald fans and beloved authors and artists Gwen Grant, Letizia Mancino, Perry Woodfin, Traci Tyne Hilton, Tatjana Geßler, music producer Bernd Kunze, musician Thomas Bödigheimer, translater Mary Holmes and Mr. Tigerli.
