Diplomats from Three European Countries: We Are Close to Preserving the Nuclear Agreement with Iran

European diplomats say that the three countries of Britain, France, and Germany are close to preserving the nuclear agreement with Iran. These diplomats have stated that there is no discussion of a 'new agreement with Iran' and that it is only about 'an agreement that can keep Donald Trump satisfied.' A spokesperson for the British government, while supporting the French President's efforts to maintain the nuclear agreement with Iran, said that London is cooperating with its allies on challenges related to Iran. On the other hand, Russia has described neglecting the JCPOA as a return to a period of 'political abnormality.' Emmanuel Macron, the French President, who is in Washington to meet with his American counterpart, said on Wednesday that he has been able to reach a 'new agreement' with Donald Trump that addresses all concerns regarding Iran, not just its nuclear program. Diplomats from the three European countries told Reuters: 'The efforts of the past three months have paid off,' and they have reached a proposed package that they hope will satisfy Mr. Trump regarding Iran. A senior European diplomat, who wished to remain anonymous, told Reuters: 'The issue here is keeping Donald Trump satisfied, and this is not a new agreement with Iran.' In Geneva, Christopher Ford, the U.S. representative for arms control, stated: 'Our intention is not to reopen the JCPOA or change anything in it. Washington only wants to achieve a complementary agreement that considers more directives, rules, and restrictions.' European diplomats say this means that the three European countries and the U.S. agree to consider issues not mentioned in the JCPOA, such as Iran's support for Bashar al-Assad's government and ballistic missile testing. These diplomats added: 'This means that new sanctions may be imposed by the European Union against Iran.' The imposition of further sanctions against Iran by the EU had been previously discussed but did not come to fruition due to opposition from Italy, Spain, and Austria. A senior diplomat told Reuters: 'Most European countries are united in creating some pressure on Iran to keep Donald Trump in the JCPOA, but it is unclear whether they will have consensus in cooperating for that.' This diplomat added: 'The discussion about sunset clauses and finding ways to delay Iran's potential move towards a nuclear bomb at the end of the agreement is also on the table, but it is very difficult.' A spokesperson for the British government told Reuters: 'We are closely cooperating with our allies on a range of challenges related to Iran in the Middle East, including issues raised in Mr. Macron's new agreement.' He added: 'The nuclear agreement with Iran is the result of 13 years of continuous diplomacy and has proven its effectiveness.' Donald Trump has stated that he is no longer willing to extend the suspension of sanctions related to the JCPOA unless its 'catastrophic flaws' are addressed. Meanwhile, Sergey Ryabkov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, reacted on Wednesday to the 'new agreement' between Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump, stating that the JCPOA was 'a tool for ending all the controversies surrounding Iran's nuclear program. Now they want to return it to a period of political abnormality.' Mr. Ryabkov said: 'We have previously stated that we do not support the agreement between the three European countries and the U.S. Our issue here is the agreement that London, Paris, and Berlin are trying to reach with the U.S.' The Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia expressed hope that the positions of China and Russia in support of the JCPOA would be taken into account and send a political message that - any other agreement, whatever it may be - will not have the same support as the JCPOA. Since the U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump has attacked the nuclear agreement with Iran, calling it 'the worst deal possible.' Alongside the U.S. President, Israel and Saudi Arabia are also opposed to the Iranian nuclear agreement. Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, reacted to the potential agreement between the U.S. and Europe, saying: 'By what authority have two parties decided on a seven-party agreement?' Mr. Rouhani stated: 'I have spoken several times on the phone and once in person with the French President and have honestly said that we do not agree to add or remove a single word from the JCPOA.'