By Ashna Butani
The Iran nuclear deal was signed by the US, China, France, Russia, Germany, UK and Iran in 2015. While all other signatories of the deal have peacefully abided by the terms, Donald Trump has done everything possible to rewrite his predecessor’s stand on the deal. The deal was considered as the Obama administration’s strongest foreign policy measure, however, Trump thinks that the deal is not stringent enough. In an attempt to do away with these supposed flaws, the President said that he will impose sanctions on Iran. He agreed to waive these sanctions in January but has refused to do so again.
President Trump has said that he is giving European nations a final chance to amend the pact. However, if these nations fail to do this, the president has threatened to impose sanctions on Iran. Iran, for its part, said that the withdrawal of the US will lead to their own withdrawal from the pact. If sanctions are imposed by the US, the Iranians say that they will be forced to retaliate. This situation would wreak havoc worldwide, as Iran’s nuclear problem might not be suppressed if the deal falls apart.
Trump’s attempt to rewrite the deal
The deal was initially aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear power. Under its provisions, several measures were taken to keep Iran’s nuclear ambitions in check. Iran allowed the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect any site deemed suspicious, and a UN ban on the import of inter-ballistic missile technology was imposed on the country. Iran also agreed to stop any research that may lead to the creation of a nuclear bomb.
Under the scrutiny of the IAEA, Iran has kept its word so far. EU negotiator Mogherini has said that the deal is succeeding in doing what it promised to do. Trump, however, thinks otherwise. In a statement, the US President said that the US would comply with the deal only if the countries insist on Iran giving immediate access to all sites by international weapons inspectors and that a clause declaring the indefinite extension of limits on Iran’s uranium enrichment and other nuclear activities is added to the agreement.
This contravention of the original deal is unacceptable to Iran. European nations have exerted Trump to stop his efforts to change the deal, but he has replied with forceful language. A White House official stated that the US, UK, France and Germany will work on an agreement that will enshrine further limits that the Iranian regime cannot exceed. US sanctions will resume on May 12 if an agreement is not reached.
Iran’s response
Abbas Aragachi, an Iranian deputy foreign minister, said that Trump is violating the terms of the deal by threatening to impose sanctions. Any further US sanctions would harm Iranian trade. Under the deal, foreign countries invested in Iran thinking that the country was again open for business. Abbas said that if Iran does not see any benefit from the deal after the amendments, it will walk away. If the new situation causes confusion which leads to banks or companies becoming unwilling to cooperate, the deal will not survive, he added.
Aragachi also said that restrictions on activities such as uranium enrichment were only temporary and insisted that it is not possible to turn them into permanent measures. His fears are centred around the fact that, even if European nations lift their sanctions, the economy will be crippled by further American action against the country. This is because many European and British banks are under US regulations.
Trump’s decision receives global criticism
A Russian minister, critical of Trump’s attempt to change the deal, said that Russia’s worst fears are being confirmed. The EU, meanwhile, is of the opinion that it will be very difficult to save the deal after this. The European Union continues to defend the deal despite Trump’s latest call for an amendment. The EU has said that they are carefully assessing the deal after Trump set the 120-day deadline.
The EU’s Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said that discussions with Iran are taking place. Recent talks in Brussels focused on tensions in the Middle East, recent protests in Iran and Iran’s ballistic missile program. Hahn said that these issues are of great significance, however, they must be discussed outside the scope of the Iran Nuclear Deal.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that any change in the deal will be like trodding on a “very slippery slope, in a very dangerous direction.” The Russians are not incorrect. Although Iran has not stated how they will retaliate, it is obvious that Iran will not take the imposition of new sanctions very well.
Featured Image Source: Flickr
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