Reuters: New European Sanctions Proposal Against Iran to Encourage U.S. to Uphold JCPOA

A confidential document obtained by Reuters on Friday, March 16, indicates that Britain, France, and Germany have proposed new European sanctions against Iran regarding its missile program and the Islamic Republic's role in the Syrian war to persuade the U.S. to maintain the nuclear agreement. Two sources familiar with the details informed Reuters that this joint document, a copy of which has been seen by Reuters, was sent to European capitals on Friday to gain the support of all 28 EU member states for such sanctions. Reuters writes that this proposal is part of the EU's strategy to preserve the Iran nuclear deal, aiming to show U.S. President Donald Trump that there are alternative ways to counter Iran's assertiveness beyond its borders. The Iran nuclear agreement, reached in 2015 in Vienna after intense negotiations between Iran and six world powers, lifted sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program in exchange for limitations on Tehran's nuclear activities, hoping to restrict Tehran's ability to potentially develop nuclear weapons. However, U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been a serious critic of the JCPOA since before taking office, set a deadline two months ago for addressing his concerns about the deal, threatening that without rectifying these issues, he would not extend the lifting of sanctions on Iran and would withdraw from the nuclear agreement. This deadline expires on May 12, 2018. In the document that Reuters has obtained regarding the proposed sanctions against Iran, the three European powers emphasized that 'in the coming days, we will present a list of individuals and companies that we believe can be targeted [for sanctions] due to their public roles.' Reuters assessed this action by the three European countries as going beyond expectations outlined in a U.S. State Department document seen by Reuters last month, which emphasized 'commitment to improving the Iran nuclear deal.' Additionally, as noted by Reuters, this action reflects the three European countries' frustration with Tehran, as an European diplomat stated, 'We have been negotiating with them for 18 months, but no progress has been made on these issues.' Reuters reports that EU foreign ministers will discuss this proposal in a closed meeting in Brussels on Monday. The news agency cites analysts who believe that the Iran nuclear agreement, once seen as a success in reducing the risk of widespread war in the Middle East, would be on the brink of collapse if Washington withdraws. The document obtained by Reuters reminds that Britain, France, and Germany have been engaged in intensive discussions with the Trump administration to 'obtain a clear and lasting guarantee of U.S. support for the agreement after the [May 12] deadline.' Reuters notes that the proposal for new European sanctions comes after weeks of discussions between the U.S. State Department and European powers and is part of the European side's efforts to soften the Trump administration's stance. Earlier on Friday, following the joint commission meeting of the JCPOA in Vienna, Brian Hook, the U.S. envoy to the meeting, expressed satisfaction with discussions with the three European powers involved in the Iran nuclear agreement regarding Trump's deadline for amending the JCPOA's shortcomings. The proposal from the three European countries refers to sanctions targeting 'militias and commanders.' This document suggests that new sanctions should be based on the existing European sanctions list related to Syria, which includes travel bans and asset freezes for individuals and a trading and financing ban for private and public companies. This document has a tough tone in criticizing Iran's ballistic missile program, which Tehran emphasizes is defensive in nature. It also refers to instances of 'Iran's missile transfers and missile technology' to Syria and Iran's allied groups, including Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The document emphasizes that 'such proliferation of Iran's missile capabilities throughout the region has become an additional and serious source of concern.' Reuters reminds that this issue remains sensitive as the Iran nuclear agreement with world powers led to the lifting of international sanctions that had crippled Iran's oil-dependent economy. However, despite the fact that some European human rights sanctions against Iranian individuals remain in place, the EU lifted financial and economic restrictions against Iran in 2016 and does not want to be seen as violating the nuclear agreement. Iran accepted limitations on its enrichment activities while repeatedly emphasizing that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and for electricity generation, while rejecting any negotiations over its missile program, which it claims is defensive in nature. The Islamic Republic has also rejected Western accusations regarding destabilizing activities in the region and has dismissed Trump’s requests for a review of the nuclear agreement. In the joint document of the three European countries, questions and answers are provided to show that European powers will not legally violate the terms of the nuclear agreement. At the same time, it is stated that these powers 'are allowed to impose further sanctions against Iran,' provided that these sanctions are not related to the nuclear issue or revoked under the framework of the nuclear agreement. The three European powers have noted that their proposed sanctions are justified, as Iran has not taken 'further actions to halt its missile program and destabilizing activities' in relation to its commitments under the JCPOA. The text of the Iran nuclear agreement does not mention Iran's missile activities, and this is one of Trump's main criticisms of the agreement. At the same time, Trump and his officials have repeatedly labeled Iran as violating the spirit of the nuclear agreement due to its destabilizing activities, as under this agreement, Iran is committed to participating in global peace and stability. Iran states that based on the Security Council resolution supporting the JCPOA, it is only prohibited from testing missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads and emphasizes the defensive nature of its missile program.