China, Russia and EU Considering New Iran Nuclear Deal?
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
It’s disturbing news if true, suggesting submissiveness to Washington instead of opposing its hegemonic agenda. It’s too soon to tell until more is known after a late May meeting in Vienna.
According to Germany’s Welt am Sonntag, citing senior EU sources, P5+1 countries Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia will discuss revising the JCPOA nuclear deal to bring Washington back on board.
Reportedly it’ll call for curbs on Iran’s legitimate ballistic missile program and its regional activities, referring to its military advisors involved in helping Syria combat US-supported terrorists, along with its legitimate relations with groups Washington falsely calls terrorists.
The only regional ones are the US, Israel and their rogue allies, not the Islamic Republic, Syria, Hezbollah or Hamas.
According to Welt am Sonntag, a new agreement may offer Iran financial aid as a carrot to get its approval. An unnamed senior EU diplomat was quoted, saying:
“We have to get away from the name ‘Vienna nuclear agreement’ and add in a few additional elements. Only that will convince President Trump to agree and lift sanctions again.”
After meeting with Putin in Sochi days earlier, Angela Merkel said “(w)e spoke about the difficult situation amid the US withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal. Germany, the United Kingdom, France and all our colleagues in the European Union are supporting this agreement and we are going to continue to abide by it in the future.”
On Sunday, senior Iranian official Ali Akbar Velayati criticized what’s been going on since Trump’s JCPOA pullout, saying:
“Some members of the European Union say they are committed (to the JCPOA). Some also say that they are developing economic relations (with Iran).”
“Meanwhile, some European officials have stated that they cannot offer guarantees in the face of US sanctions.”
“Some…say they are not supposed to stand up to America and give guarantees. These contradictions in the comments of European officials raise doubts. We hope that our authorities could get the necessary guarantees in their negotiations,” adding:
“A duplicitous side, which makes contradictory remarks, cannot be trusted.” Things may be heading in this direction, Russia and China involved, instead of unconditionally refusing to change an international agreement to please Trump - a disgraceful sellout if things turn out this way.
The JCPOA can only survive if other P5+1 countries refuse to observe US sanctions on Iran - proving it through actions. Rhetoric alone is meaningless.
Tehran is highly unlikely to compromise its security by weakening its defense capabilities. Suggesting it is unacceptable.
Europe notoriously can’t be trusted, most often supporting US interests even when harming its own.
Media reports about the European Commission invoking the EU blocking statute, banning bloc companies from complying with US sanctions on Iran, along with prohibiting its courts from enforcing them, may turn out to be wishful thinking.
Invoking it is one thing, enforcement another. If Welt am Sonntag’s report is accurate, China, Russia and the EU may bend to Washington’s will instead of doing the right thing - refusing to go along with what’s unacceptable.
Tough talk is meaningless without actions supporting them. At stake is preserving the JCPOA, respecting Iranian sovereignty, and preventing possible US/Israeli aggression on the country, transforming it into a charnel house like other countries Washington attacked.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at [email protected].
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
