Donald Trump and Theresa May Agree to Discuss Iran Sanctions

Reports indicate that Theresa May, the Prime Minister of the UK, and Donald Trump, the President of the USA, agreed on Friday, May 11, during a phone call to negotiate the impact of US sanctions on companies that have business relations with Iran. Following Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the JCPOA, US officials have warned European companies that they have a maximum of six months to terminate their transactions and contracts with Tehran. The US warning about reinstating economic sanctions against Iran has raised concerns among officials from the three countries of the UK, France, and Germany, which remain committed to the JCPOA. According to Reuters, a spokesperson for the British Prime Minister stated that Ms. May raised the potential impact of US sanctions on companies operating in Iran during the conversation. The spokesperson added that Trump and May agreed on negotiations between the delegations of the two countries. The spokesperson emphasized that the British Prime Minister reiterated that the UK and its European partners would remain 'strongly committed' to the nuclear agreement with Iran to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to ensure that Iran's nuclear program remains peaceful. The reinstatement of US sanctions has caused concern among several companies dealing with Iran, and in the latest development, two major shipping companies, Maersk Line and MSC, are revising their contracts with Iran. In this context, on Wednesday, a US State Department official regarding economic relations and cooperation between Europe and Iran stated that the US government is 'encouraging its European allies to reduce investments in Iran.' Following the US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran, the three European countries involved in the agreement have intensified their efforts to preserve it. The Iranian Foreign Minister is also set to travel to Brussels and will negotiate with the foreign ministers of France, the UK, and Germany regarding the JCPOA on Tuesday. In this context, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister stated yesterday that 'preserving the JCPOA without the US is possible if solid guarantees are provided.' Meanwhile, Trump also expressed hope yesterday that the US would reach a new and 'fair' agreement with Iran, noting that the strongest, most severe, and most precise sanctions would be imposed against Iran. Iranian officials have previously rejected any renegotiation of the JCPOA. According to Reuters, Trump and May, in this phone call, condemned 'Iran's rocket attacks' against Israeli forces in the Golan Heights and supported 'Israel's right to defend itself.' The spokesperson for the British Prime Minister stated that they discussed the need for calm from the parties involved and emphasized the necessity of countering Iran's destabilizing actions in the region. Israel accused the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Thursday of firing at least 20 rockets from Syrian territory towards the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Israel claims that in response to this action, it targeted the positions of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces in Syria.