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E.U. Foreign Ministers Scramble to Save Iran Deal E.U. Ministers, Scrambling to Save Iran Nuclear Deal, Say Breaches Are Still Not Major
(about 2 hours later)
BRUSSELS — European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday scrambled to work out how to salvage the Iran nuclear deal despite Tehran’s breaching the agreed limits on its uranium enrichment program and warning that it might go much further. BRUSSELS — Scrambling to save the nuclear agreement with Iran, European foreign ministers declared Monday that Iranian breaches so far do not justify triggering the accord’s dispute-resolution provision, which could lead to its collapse.
Arriving at the meeting, the British foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said there was a little time left to save the Iran deal. That conclusion, at a meeting in Brussels, effectively extended a lifeline for the 2015 nuclear agreement, which has been increasingly imperiled since the United States abandoned it more than a year ago.
The European Union ministers reiterated their view that the 2015 agreement was the only option to curbing Iran’s nuclear program.
In recent weeks Iran has exceeded the amount and purity of the uranium it is permitted under the accord — transgressions that the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed. The Iranians have said they intend to breach the limits even more unless they get what the accord promised Iran: economic relief.
Triggering the dispute-resolution article in the accord would start a process that could restore all sanctions placed on Iran. That, many analysts, say would almost certainly would doom the agreement.
The European reluctance to use the provision came despite pressure from both the United States and Israel, which say Iran’s breaches are a signal of the country’s intent to move toward the capacity to make an atomic bomb. Under the accord, Iran has vowed to never seek such a weapon.
“For the time being, none of the parties to the agreement has signaled their intention to invoke this article,” Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s top foreign policy official, told a news conference after the foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.
Ms. Mogherini said that “none of them, for the moment, for the time being, with the current data we have had” believe that there has been “significant noncompliance.”
The conclusion was quickly denounced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, whose government regards Iran as the country’s most serious security threat.
“The European Union’s response to Iranian violations reminds me of the European appeasement of the 1930s,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement reported by Israeli news media. “There are probably some in Europe who will not wake up until Iranian missiles fall on European soil. Then it probably will be too late.”
Ms. Mogherini, echoing the view of the meeting’s participants, said that the nuclear deal was still the only available option.
“The deal has avoided Iran developing a nuclear weapon, and today everyone recognizes that there is no alternative,” she said. “This is the most dramatic and difficult stage.”
Jeremy Hunt, Britain’s foreign secretary, said he saw little time left to save the deal.
“Iran is still a good year away from developing a nuclear bomb,” Mr. Hunt said. “There is still some closing, but small window to keep the deal alive.”“Iran is still a good year away from developing a nuclear bomb,” Mr. Hunt said. “There is still some closing, but small window to keep the deal alive.”
Although the United States has withdrawn from the agreement, the European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said that the deal was still the only available option to curb Iran’s nuclear program. The European signatories to the deal — Britain, France and Germany — issued a joint statement Sunday evening that said they were still committed to it. They expressed regret that the United States had reimposed sanctions on Iran “even though that country had implemented its commitments under the agreement.”
“The deal has avoided Iran developing a nuclear weapon, and today everyone recognizes that there is no alternative,” she said after the foreign ministers’ meeting. “This is the most dramatic and difficult stage.”
The European signatories to the deal, Britain, France and Germany, issued a joint statement Sunday evening that said they were still committed to the deal and regretted that the United States had reimposed sanctions on Iran “even though that country had implemented its commitments under the agreement.”
“We believe that the time has come to act responsibly and to seek ways to stop the escalation of tension and resume dialogue,” the three countries said in the statement. “The risks are such that it is necessary that all stakeholders take a break, and consider the possible consequences of their actions.”“We believe that the time has come to act responsibly and to seek ways to stop the escalation of tension and resume dialogue,” the three countries said in the statement. “The risks are such that it is necessary that all stakeholders take a break, and consider the possible consequences of their actions.”
But the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said that he saw little reason to be optimistic that the European signatories could save the agreement — known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — by alleviating the punishing effects of American sanctions against Iran.But the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said that he saw little reason to be optimistic that the European signatories could save the agreement — known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — by alleviating the punishing effects of American sanctions against Iran.
“The Europeans claim they were willing to maintain the J.C.P.O.A., but we have not seen Europe yet to be ready for an investment,” he said on Sunday after arriving in New York for a meeting of the United Nations, Iran’s state-run Press TV reported.“The Europeans claim they were willing to maintain the J.C.P.O.A., but we have not seen Europe yet to be ready for an investment,” he said on Sunday after arriving in New York for a meeting of the United Nations, Iran’s state-run Press TV reported.
Iran has sent mixed signals about its intentions in recent days, with President Hassan Rouhani expressing a willingness to open new talks with Washington — once sanctions are removed.Iran has sent mixed signals about its intentions in recent days, with President Hassan Rouhani expressing a willingness to open new talks with Washington — once sanctions are removed.
“We are always ready for negotiation,” he said in a televised speech. “The moment you stop sanctions and bullying, we are ready to negotiate.”“We are always ready for negotiation,” he said in a televised speech. “The moment you stop sanctions and bullying, we are ready to negotiate.”
But a spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Behrouz Kamalvandi, said on Monday that unless Europe could salvage the deal, his country would return its nuclear program to its status before the accord, when its uranium stockpile was much larger and some of the element had been much more highly enriched. But a spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Behrouz Kamalvandi, said Monday that unless Europe could salvage the deal, his country would return its nuclear program to its status before the accord. Its uranium stockpile was much larger then, and some of it was much more highly enriched.
Tensions with Tehran have mounted since President Trump last year withdrew the United States from the 2015 accord that scaled back Iran’s nuclear program and reimposed economic sanctions that had been lifted under the deal. The limits set in the deal were intended to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Tensions with Tehran have intensified since President Trump last year withdrew the United States from the accord and reimposed American economic sanctions that had been lifted under the deal. Mr. Trump imposed additional sanctions this year, trying to cut off Iran’s ability to sell oil, a pillar of its economy.
Mr. Trump imposed additional sanctions this year, trying to cut off Iran’s ability to sell oil, a pillar of its economy. Britain, France and Germany have made a commitment to ease the impact of American sanctions, but so far have not found an effective way to do so.
Britain, France and Germany have made a commitment to ease the impact of American sanctions but so far have not found an effective way to do so. The centerpiece of their efforts is the creation of a kind of exchange that would allow European companies to do business with Iran in a way that bypasses the American banking system. Tehran has said that the system, known as Instex, is inadequate.
The centerpiece of their efforts is the creation of a kind of exchange that would allow European companies to do business with Iran in a way that bypasses the American banking system, but Tehran has said that the system, known as Instex, is inadequate.
Arriving at the meeting of Europeans on Monday, Josep Borrell, the Spanish foreign minister and nominee to become the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, said, “We will do what we can to guarantee that there is no economic embargo against Iran and that European companies can continue working there.”Arriving at the meeting of Europeans on Monday, Josep Borrell, the Spanish foreign minister and nominee to become the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, said, “We will do what we can to guarantee that there is no economic embargo against Iran and that European companies can continue working there.”
“It’s very difficult because U.S. laws applied in an extraterritorial manner, in a way that we don’t recognize, make it difficult,” he said, adding that Spain would join the Instex mechanism.“It’s very difficult because U.S. laws applied in an extraterritorial manner, in a way that we don’t recognize, make it difficult,” he said, adding that Spain would join the Instex mechanism.
Ms. Mogherini said that the mechanism had to become “faster and more operational,” but that even at this early stage, countries that are not members of the European Union had expressed interest in joining Instex. She declined to say which these countries were. Ms. Mogherini said that the mechanism had to become “faster and more operational,” but that even at this early stage, countries that are not members of the European Union had expressed interest in joining Instex. She declined to say which countries.
“We’re doing our best, and we hope that this will be enough,” Ms. Mogherini said in defending the Instex system, adding that the first transactions were being processed. “We’re doing our best, and we hope that this will be enough,” Ms. Mogherini said in defending the Instex system. She said the first transactions were being processed.
Despite the renewed sanctions, Iran complied with its commitments under the nuclear deal for a year after Mr. Trump’s withdrawal. But the confrontation has escalated since the American president imposed further sanctions.Despite the renewed sanctions, Iran complied with its commitments under the nuclear deal for a year after Mr. Trump’s withdrawal. But the confrontation has escalated since the American president imposed further sanctions.
Iran warned that it would stop complying with the deal’s cap on its enriched uranium stockpile unless the Europeans made good on their promises, and then said that it would exceed the pact’s restrictions on how highly enriched the uranium could be. In each case, the European countries were unable to deliver, and Iran surpassed the limits this month.Iran warned that it would stop complying with the deal’s cap on its enriched uranium stockpile unless the Europeans made good on their promises, and then said that it would exceed the pact’s restrictions on how highly enriched the uranium could be. In each case, the European countries were unable to deliver, and Iran surpassed the limits this month.
In May and June, six tankers were damaged near the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway that carries much of the world’s oil, and American officials said the ships had been attacked by Iran.In May and June, six tankers were damaged near the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway that carries much of the world’s oil, and American officials said the ships had been attacked by Iran.
Last month, Iran shot down a United States surveillance drone, which American officials said was over international waters but which Tehran said had violated Iranian airspace. Mr. Trump ordered a military strike in retaliation, but then retracted the order.Last month, Iran shot down a United States surveillance drone, which American officials said was over international waters but which Tehran said had violated Iranian airspace. Mr. Trump ordered a military strike in retaliation, but then retracted the order.
This month, the British authorities seized an Iranian tanker near Gibraltar that they said was carrying oil to Syria, in violation of European Union sanctions on that country. Days later, London said that one of its naval ships had to chase away three Iranian boats that had been trying to impede a British tanker.This month, the British authorities seized an Iranian tanker near Gibraltar that they said was carrying oil to Syria, in violation of European Union sanctions on that country. Days later, London said that one of its naval ships had to chase away three Iranian boats that had been trying to impede a British tanker.
Britain offered on Saturday to return the Iranian ship if the oil were sent somewhere other than Syria.Britain offered on Saturday to return the Iranian ship if the oil were sent somewhere other than Syria.
Iran’s relations with European countries beyond the nuclear deal continue to be strained over arrests of dual European-Iranian nationals.Iran’s relations with European countries beyond the nuclear deal continue to be strained over arrests of dual European-Iranian nationals.
On Monday, France said Iran had arrested a French-Iranian academic, Fariba Adelkhah, who teaches at the prestigious Sciences Po university in Paris, and was not allowing French diplomats to visit her.On Monday, France said Iran had arrested a French-Iranian academic, Fariba Adelkhah, who teaches at the prestigious Sciences Po university in Paris, and was not allowing French diplomats to visit her.
Britain has long asked for the release of a British-Iranian woman, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was arrested in 2016 during a family visit with her daughter.Britain has long asked for the release of a British-Iranian woman, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was arrested in 2016 during a family visit with her daughter.