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Iran nuclear accord: two months since the US quit Paris, July 6 (AFP) Jul 06, 2018 President Donald Trump in May withdrew the United States from a hard-won accord that Washington and other world powers signed with Iran in 2015 to curb Tehran's nuclear programme. After foreign ministers of Iran and the five other signatories -- Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia -- met in Vienna on Friday to find ways to keep the deal alive, here is a look-back over developments since Trump's withdrawal.
"The Iran deal is defective at its core," he says. Washington warns other countries to end trade and investment in Iran and stop buying its oil or face punitive measures, a move which also threatens foreign companies doing deals with Iran. Tehran's regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Israel applaud the decision. But Britain, France and Germany say they are determined to save the deal and its economic benefits for Iran.
Washington warns on May 21 that Iran will be hit with the "strongest sanctions in history" unless it abides by controls on its nuclear programme. On May 24 the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, says Iran continues to respect the terms of the 2015 accord. On May 30 the United States places several Iranian state groups on its sanctions blacklist, accusing them of serious human rights abuses and censorship. On June 4 Iran notifies the IAEA of the launch of a plan to increase its uranium enrichment capacity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims this is aimed at producing nuclear weapons to be used against his country.
Six people are arrested in Belgium, France and Germany. The People's Mujahedeen of Iran charges that the Iranian regime is behind the alleged plot. But Tehran dismisses it is as a "false flag" designed to overshadow an upcoming trip to Europe by Rouhani to seek assurances that the nuclear deal can be maintained. The president arrives in Switzerland on July 2.
US secondary sanctions on firms dealing with Iran would "snap back" in August for trade in cars and metals and in November for oil and banking transactions, the State Department official says. Rouhani responds on July 3 saying the United States can never prevent Iran from exporting its oil. On July 6 Tehran's five remaining partners vow in Vienna to back "the continuation of Iran's export of oil and gas." The foreign ministers agree with Iran an 11-point list of joint goals and reconfirm their commitment to the nuclear deal. Tehran's top diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif praises them for their "will to resist" US pressure.
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