Europe cautions US against leaving Iran nuclear deal

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (KUNA) -- Germany, France, UK and the European Union warned Washington of 'hugely negative consequences' including a potential nuclear arms race if it did not re-certify its nuclear agreement with Iran in the coming weeks.
During a panel discussion at the Atlantic Council, several top European diplomats expressed unanimous support for the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal.
The deal, which curbs Iran's nuclear capability in return for lifting international oil and financial sanctions, created 'the most intrusive and comprehensive inspection verification regime in the world' and has succeeded in curbing Tehran's nuclear weapons program, they affirmed.
The White House has an October 15 deadline to certify to Congress that Iran is complying with the terms of the deal.
However, in recent weeks, the Trump administration has walked back support of the JCPOA, leaving the deal in limbo and raising international concern.
In a speech before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Donald Trump called it "an embarrassment to the United States" and senior administration officials say Iran's missile tests and meddling in the region "violate the spirit" of the deal.
Since signing the accord, Iran has complied with key commitments including scaling back its stock of low-enriched uranium and centrifuges, according to multiple reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
European officials caution the US to take into consideration larger regional issues before walking away from the deal.
"There is the danger that Iran resumes its enrichment program. There is a danger there will be a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and beyond.
It weakens the central Non-Proliferation Treaty regime that we have in place, and it would send a signal to North Korea that diplomacy is not reliable," German Ambassador to the US Peter Wittig stated.
European officials have intensified talks with Trump as well as House and Senate lawmakers over in the last few weeks to lobby their support behind the deal.
Among those include close ally, British Prime Minister Theresa May who in recent talks with the president expressed the UK's support of the JCPOA and national security concerns should it fall through.
"I wouldn't for a second believe that the Prime Minister had persuaded the president to stick with it," British Ambassador to the US Sir Kim Darroch said.
"Trump said he wasn't going to say in that meeting what position he would eventually take." However, Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson did express interest in Britain's proposed ideas on pushing back against Iran's influence in the Middle East including in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq and inspection powers more effectively in the context of the agreement, according to Darroch.
Recently re-elected German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to speak with Trump on the issue in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Europe has pledged to continue implementing the agreement with Iran as long as it remains in force.
"So far as we are concerned the agreement is working. There is no need to amend it, to renegotiation or to change it as long as it continues to function effectively and that is the unanimous position of the European Side," Ambassador of the European Union to the US David O'Sullivan.
"We believe the eventual demise of this agreement would be a major loss," he added. (end) hy.mb