President of the European Council: Trump's Decisions Showed Europe Must Shed Illusions

The President of the European Council stated that Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the JCPOA showed that "Europe must discard its illusions," while Hassan Rouhani claimed that Iran's decision to remain in the JCPOA "disrupted America's plans." Donald Tusk, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, May 16, noted that Trump's recent decisions regarding the JCPOA and trade issues made one ponder, "With such friends, what need do we have for enemies?" He added that Europe should be grateful for Trump's recent decisions, which demonstrated that "we must discard all illusions ... and rely on ourselves." European Union leaders are set to discuss proposed mechanisms to preserve the JCPOA in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Wednesday evening. On May 8, Donald Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran, emphasizing that the JCPOA "brought neither peace nor security," and that the Islamic Republic continued to expand its ballistic missile program and "support for terrorism" after the agreement. The three European countries, France, Britain, and Germany, while emphasizing the need to negotiate on Iran's missile program and its regional actions, have expressed their desire to preserve the JCPOA. Meanwhile, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, stated on Wednesday that the cancellation of the JCPOA would be "a threat to security and peace" in a troubled region of the world, and Europe has "tools and resources" to maintain this agreement. Juncker, speaking to reporters before heading to Sofia, also stressed that "we should not deceive ourselves; these resources are limited. But we must use all the tools at our disposal." The President of the European Commission mentioned that he could not comment before tonight's meeting and said, "Probably tomorrow (Thursday), more news will be released on this matter." However, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, warned that Trump's decision to withdraw from the JCPOA should not call into question U.S.-European relations. Rouhani: Iran Disrupted America's Plans by Not Leaving the JCPOA. On the other hand, Hassan Rouhani, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated that Donald Trump thought that by withdrawing from the JCPOA, Iran would also exit the agreement and that sanctions would return; however, according to him, by Iran remaining in the nuclear agreement, "all of America's plans were disrupted." He said in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, "Trump's plan was to announce at night that he was withdrawing from the JCPOA, and the next morning Iran would announce its withdrawal from the JCPOA, and by noon, the International Agency would report that Iran had exited the JCPOA, and the following day, UN resolutions would return, and Iran would be sanctioned globally again." Rouhani also described the U.S. government as "a violator of commitments and a transgressor of international regulations" for its withdrawal from the JCPOA and accused "some on the other side" of thinking that through pressure, sanctions, threats, and even showing signs of war, they could subdue the Iranian nation. The Iranian President also criticized internal critics and those who believe that "global issues ... can be resolved with speeches, slogans, and stirring people's emotions." Rouhani's government stated that Iran would continue its cooperation with the five remaining countries in the nuclear agreement and would take appropriate action if it does not benefit from the JCPOA. However, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, stated that he is "distrustful" of Europeans and that Iranian parties must obtain "necessary guarantees" from them. European officials have rejected giving guarantees to Iran.