Iran Press/ Europe: Following America's unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) and Europe's continued foot-dragging in carrying out its commitments under the deal, Iran announced some reciprocal measures recently and decided to reduce its commitments under the deal. The question has now become whether Europe can find a way to keep the nuclear deal alive, and how big a challenge is that for the Europeans?
The German foreign minister Heiko Maas has claimed that Europe has "honoured its commitments" under the JCPOA and that Germany expects Iran to do the same. He also claimed that it would be "very difficult for Iran to benefit economically from the nuclear deal", given America's sanctions and hostility and the current circumstances.
European foot-dragging results in Tehran's reciprocal measures
The comments by Heiko Maas raised eyebrows in Tehran, with officials rejecting his claim that Europe had honoured its commitments under the JCPOA. In fact over a year after America's abrogation of the agreement, the Europeans still haven't managed to make 'INSTEX', a mechanism for trade with Iran, operational. It seems the remarks by the German foreign minister are really an admission that Europe does not want to fully honour its commitments and obligations under the agreement.
It was precisely because of European foot-dragging and inaction that Iran announced its 'reciprocal measures' exactly a year after America's illegal and unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA.
Iran’s announcement indicates that it is shifting from a policy of strategic patience to strategic action. Clearly, Iran concluded that the current state of play was untenable. Tehran has concluded that it needs to inject a shock into the JCPOA in order to save it, by forcing the European trio (E3) to take more proactive steps, and make sure that Iran receives meaningful and worthwhile economic benefit as a signatory to the agreement. If Europe can provide Iran with some economic benefits then we are 'back on track', and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) can certainly be salvaged.
There is however a growing perception in Tehran that Europe is unwilling to pay the price for salvaging and safeguarding the landmark nuclear agreement, the JCPOA, even though top European officials have repeatedly acknowledged that the agreement is vital for European and world security. The remarks by the German foreign minister Heiko Maas, emphasizing the difficulties of preserving JCPOA, are a case in point. Heiko Maas said: "One year after America's withdrawal from the JCPOA, it is not an easy task to salvage the agreement. The economic benefits which had been promised to Iran, as part of the agreement, are now very difficult to realize, because of America's abrogation of the JCPOA. Still, Europe is trying its best to salvage the agreement. The world would be a safer place with the agreement rather than without it." Maas brazenly claimed: "Because Europe doesn't trust Iran, we are trying to preserve the JCPOA."
Do the Europeans have the political will to salvage JCPOA?
The Question goes begging: Should Iran be distrustful of Europeans, because of their inaction and failure to fully honour their commitments under the nuclear deal, or should the Europeans be distrustful of Iran, as the German foreign minister has said? It should be noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, has confirmed on 14 separate occasions that the Islamic Republic of Iran has fully complied with all of its commitments and obligations under the JCPOA !
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Many in Tehran are asking whether Europe has the political will and determination to salvage the JCPOA, or is Europe just a free-rider in the JCPOA in the same way the US is, making Europe unwilling to provide Iran with meaningful economic benefits out of fear it would upset relations with Washington.
Iran has set the clock ticking for 60 days, and the ball is now in the European court. If the Europeans are serious about salvaging the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), they need to take urgent action, within the 60 day period, to ensure that Iran receives real and substantial economic benefit from the JCPOA. However, if Europeans bow to US pressure or continue to sit on the fence, taking no effective action, they cannot expect Tehran to continue honouring the landmark nuclear deal. 203/211
Commentary written by: Seyyed Reza Mir Taher
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