The years-long dispute over restoring the nuclear deal with Iran seems deadlocked again. In a joint statement on Saturday, the governments of Germany, France and Great Britain criticized Iran for not wanting to conclude the agreement on the table.
In their struggle to revive the Iran nuclear deal, Germany, France and Britain have expressed “serious doubts” about Tehran’s intentions. A joint statement released on Saturday said Iran was endangering “prospects of a restoration” of the deal. The 2015 Iran nuclear deal was intended to cap Iran’s nuclear program and ensure the country would not build nuclear weapons.
The deal provides for Iran to limit its nuclear activities under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in exchange for an easing of international sanctions.
The governments in Berlin, Paris and London said that they, together with the US and the other JCPOA participants, had negotiated with Iran “in good faith” in order to “fully implement” the action plan. In the negotiations, the European states went “to the limits of our flexibility”. Unfortunately, Iran “decided not to seize this crucial diplomatic opportunity.”
When an agreement was “within reach”, Tehran again opened “separate issues” on obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. “This latest demand raises serious doubts about Iran’s intentions and commitment to a successful outcome,” the statement said.
Iran must cooperate “fully and promptly” in good faith with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
In view of the current situation, Germany, France and Great Britain have now announced consultations with “our international partners” on “how best to deal with Iran’s continued nuclear escalation and its unwillingness to cooperate” with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
