Reuters: European Powers Face Resistance from Italy, Austria, and Spain Against Iran Sanctions

Western diplomats say that France, Britain, and Germany have failed to convince other EU member states to support new sanctions against Iran aimed at preserving the JCPOA. Italy has stated that there is no guarantee that even with new sanctions, the U.S. will not withdraw from the nuclear agreement with Iran. According to documents obtained by Reuters, France, Germany, and Britain requested support from other countries for their proposal to impose new sanctions against Iran during a closed-door meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Wednesday. However, Italy, along with Austria and Spain, resisted the imposition of new sanctions against Iran. The proposed sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes for 15 individuals, companies, and groups related to Iran's nuclear programs and its role in Syria. Italy stated that these measures are insufficient to convince U.S. President Donald Trump not to withdraw from the nuclear agreement and jeopardize recently resumed economic relations with Iran. Spain is also concerned about the consequences of imposing new sanctions. According to EU laws, the imposition of economic sanctions requires a positive vote from all member states. One European diplomat said, "Italy argues that negotiation is a better option, and imposing sanctions will weaken Europe's position and is unlikely to convince the U.S." Spain also urged the three proposing countries to consider the consequences of the sanctions. Donald Trump has given European countries that signed the nuclear agreement with Iran, which was reached in 2015 during Barack Obama's presidency, until May 12 to address the "serious flaws" in the agreement, or else the U.S. will not extend the suspension of nuclear sanctions against Iran. According to diplomats, the appointment of two politicians opposed to the nuclear agreement with Iran, John Bolton as National Security Advisor and Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, has increased the likelihood of the U.S. withdrawing from the nuclear agreement. Italy and Iran signed a framework for a credit agreement to secure investments in Iran worth 5 billion euros in January. Reuters adds that other EU members, such as Sweden, are dissatisfied with the efforts of the three European powers to quickly approve their proposed sanctions. Another European diplomat said, "The actions of these three countries resembled a commando operation but failed. The issue is that within the EU, everyone believes that Donald Trump will withdraw from the nuclear agreement with Iran, and as a result, some consider these actions futile." France, Britain, and Germany are in contact with the U.S. government to see what actions might encourage Donald Trump to extend the suspension of sanctions against Iran. Under the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and global powers (China, Russia, Britain, Germany, France, and the U.S.), nuclear sanctions that had crippled Iran's oil-dependent economy were lifted in exchange for limiting its nuclear programs. The new sanctions proposed by France, Britain, and Germany may target senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and commanders of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Negotiations on this issue are expected to continue in early April but at a lower level than foreign ministers, serving as a precursor to the next meeting of EU foreign ministers scheduled for April 16, which will be their last official meeting before Trump's decision on Iran sanctions in May. Iran has consistently emphasized that its nuclear activities are civilian and its missile programs are entirely defensive.