Merkel: The JCPOA Can Serve as a Model for Resolving the North Korean Crisis

Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, stated that the JCPOA could serve as a model for resolving the North Korean crisis. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung published on Sunday, September 10, she announced Germany's readiness to participate in potential talks with North Korea. Merkel said, "If they want our participation, I will respond positively immediately." She referred to the negotiations of the 1+5 group with Iran that ultimately led to the nuclear agreement with Tehran two years ago, calling for the JCPOA to be used as a model in the Korean Peninsula crisis. The U.S., U.K., France, Russia, China, and Germany were able to reach a comprehensive agreement after years of negotiations with Iran. The five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany agreed to lift nuclear sanctions in exchange for Iran suspending parts of its nuclear program, such as enrichment above 20%. Merkel stated that the negotiations were "a long but important period for diplomacy" and had a "happy ending." The Chancellor added, "I can imagine using such a framework to end the North Korean dispute. Europe, and especially Germany, must prepare to play a very active role." Merkel deemed diplomacy as the only way to resolve the North Korean dispute, stating, "The new arms race that has begun in this region is not in anyone's interest." According to her, Europe must seek a diplomatic solution to this crisis with a united voice and "can do everything possible regarding sanctions." The nuclear agreement with Iran, which Merkel called for emulating, was achieved after 13 years of negotiations over Iran's controversial nuclear program in July 2015. While former U.S. President Barack Obama considered this agreement a foreign policy achievement, current President Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to it as the worst agreement he has ever seen. Although the U.S. government has confirmed Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement twice, it has yet to provide an official opinion on the latest agency report regarding Iran's compliance with the JCPOA. The next 90-day report from the U.S. government to Congress regarding the JCPOA will be presented in early autumn, but following reports of Trump's dissatisfaction with his State Department's actions in this regard, the likelihood of reaffirming Iran's compliance has become uncertain. It has been reported that the upcoming report to Congress will be prepared by a group of trusted White House staff, tasked with compiling a "potential case" to prove Iran's non-compliance with the JCPOA. A Foreign Policy report, citing three unnamed sources, mentioned Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka as two former White House officials who were critics of the State Department's actions in confirming Iran's compliance. These two have resigned from their positions in the White House in recent weeks. Washington's European partners, China, and Russia have previously expressed concern about a potential U.S. exit from the JCPOA, and Iran has recently stated through its Atomic Energy Organization head that even if the U.S. withdraws from the JCPOA, Iran will likely remain committed to it.