Mike Pence: Europeans Should Withdraw from the Nuclear Agreement with Iran

Mike Pence, the Vice President of the United States, urged America's European allies to withdraw from the nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran and warned of increasing sanctions against Iran. On Thursday, at the 'Security and Future of Peace in the Middle East' conference in Warsaw, Poland, Pence described Iran as 'the greatest threat to peace and security in the Middle East' and accused the Iranian religious government of plotting a 'new Holocaust' with its regional 'ambitions.' Pence also criticized the establishment of the mechanism known as 'INSTEX' (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges) by Germany, France, and the UK, calling it a wrong decision that would only strengthen Iran, weaken the European Union, and create a greater rift between Europe and the United States. Iran agreed to sign the JCPOA to reduce the pressure of previous sanctions, and the European parties to the JCPOA are trying to ensure that the concessions Iran made for the agreement are not lost. This mechanism recently took shape in the form of an entity called 'INSTEX,' which is a financial channel intended to facilitate continued exchanges between Iran and European companies despite US pressure. Nevertheless, Pence emphasized that 'it is time for our European partners to withdraw from the nuclear agreement with Iran and join us in applying the necessary economic and diplomatic pressures to establish the peace, security, and freedom that the people of Iran, the region, and the world deserve.' He continued, 'As the Iranian economy sharply declines and protests erupt in the streets, freedom-loving countries must join hands and hold the Iranian regime accountable for the evil and violence it has imposed on its people, the region, and the world.' Pence stressed that US sanctions against Iran 'will continue to get tougher' unless Iran changes its 'dangerous and destabilizing behavior.' So far, there have been no signs from the European Union, including Poland, the host of the Warsaw conference, indicating an intention to withdraw from the JCPOA. European officials say they agree with US concerns regarding the Islamic Republic but still consider the JCPOA useful in preventing instability. Previously, the White House warned Europeans about registering and launching the financial channel, stating that if they attempt to circumvent sanctions against Iran, 'they will face heavy fines and penalties.' On the other hand, Sergey Ryabkov, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, accused the European Union on February 11 of maintaining a 'dual approach' towards Iran. He stated that if the European Union seeks effective cooperation with Iran, it must abandon its policy of appeasing the United States.