EU rejects Iran nuclear deal ‘ultimatum’

European powers yesterday rejected “ultimatums” from Tehran but vowed to fight to save the Iran nuclear deal, as tensions with the US soar. Iran said it would defy some restrictions agreed under the 2015 accord and threatened to go further if Europe, China and Russia fail to deliver sanctions relief within 60 days. Tehran says it is responding to unilateral US sanctions imposed by Washington after President Donald Trump­ ripped up what he called a “horrible” deal, dealing a severe blow to the Iranian economy.

Europe has stressed the importance of the deal—in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions relief—for its own security, and EU president Jean-Claude Juncker said it would be on the agenda at Thursday’s summit in the Romanian town of Sibiu. EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini and France, Germany and Britain—the three European signatories to the deal—voiced “great concern” at President Hassan Rouhani’s dramatic intervention.

“We strongly urge Iran to continue to implement its commitments under the JCPOA in full as it has done until now and to refrain from any escalatory steps,” they said in a joint statement, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. “We reject any ultimatums and we will assess Iran’s compliance on the basis of Iran’s performance regarding its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA.”

Arriving at the Sibiu summit, Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz told reporters: “To be honest, we have a different approach than the US has. “We still think that the deal with the Iranians was a chance to bring Iran out of isolation. But of course we realise and we see that the US has a totally different approach and that is why it will stay a difficult issue.”

The EU statement stressed the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) role in monitoring Iran’s compliance with the deal—suggesting no concrete action is likely until the inspectors’ next report at the end of May.

But there are tensions within the EU, with some countries under domestic pressure to take a tougher line on Tehran, particularly after Iranian intelligence was accused over assassination plots in France, Denmark and the Netherlands. Europe and Washington have been at loggerheads over how to deal with the Islamic republic since Trump took office. In recent days, the US deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf—raising military tensions alongside the diplomatic discord.

Trump hit back at Tehran’s threats by tightening the economic screws further, slapping sanctions on the Iranian mining industry

The White House, which has already taken steps to scupper Iran’s oil exports—its crucial money-maker—said the steel and mining sector was the country’s second-largest source of foreign revenue, accounting for 10 percent of exports.

EU rejects Iran nuclear deal ultimatum

European powers yesterday rejected ultimatums from Tehran but vowed to fight to save the Iran nuclear deal, as tensions with the US soar. Iran said it would defy some restrictions agreed under the 2015 accord and threatened to go further if Europe, China and Russia fail to deliver sanctions relief within 60 days. Tehran says it is responding to unilateral US sanctions imposed by Washington after President Donald Trump ripped up what he called a horrible deal, dealing a severe blow to the Iranian economy. Europe has stressed the importance of the dealin which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions relieffor its own security, and EU president Jean-Claude Juncker said it would be on the agenda at Thursdays summit in the Romanian town of Sibiu. EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini and France, Germany and Britainthe three European signatories to the dealvoiced great concern at President Hassan Rouhanis dramatic intervention. We strongly urge Iran to continue to implement its commitments under the JCPOA in full as it has done until now and to refrain from any escalatory steps, they said in a joint statement, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. We reject any ultimatums and we will assess Irans compliance on the basis of Irans performance regarding its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA. Arriving at the Sibiu summit, Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz told reporters: To be honest, we have a different approach than the US has. We still think that the deal with the Iranians was a chance to bring Iran out of isolation. But of course we realise and we see that the US has a totally different approach and that is why it will stay a difficult issue. The EU statement stressed the International Atomic Energy Agencys (IAEA) role in monitoring Irans compliance with the dealsuggesting no concrete action is likely until the inspectors next report at the end of May. But there are tensions within the EU, with some countries under domestic pressure to take a tougher line on Tehran, particularly after Iranian intelligence was accused over assassination plots in France, Denmark and the Netherlands. Europe and Washington have been at loggerheads over how to deal with the Islamic republic since Trump took office. In recent days, the US deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulfraising military tensions alongside the diplomatic discord. Trump hit back at Tehrans threats by tightening the economic screws further, slapping sanctions on the Iranian mining industry The White House, which has already taken steps to scupper Irans oil exportsits crucial money-makersaid the steel and mining sector was the countrys second-largest source of foreign revenue, accounting for 10 percent of exports.