Sputnik - The tensions around the Iranian nuclear deal have revealed the disagreements in certain foreign policy approaches of the European Union and the United States, experts told Sputnik.




PARIS (Sputnik) � On Friday, US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to�halt the Joint Comprehensive Plan of�Action (JCPOA), commonly known as�the Iranian nuclear deal, said his administration had decided not to�certify that Iran was in�compliance with�the accord, which stipulates the gradual cancellation of�the Western sanctions in�exchange for�Tehran abandoning its nuclear program.

Trump also called on�US Congress to�agree new terms which, if violated by�Iran, would allow for�the re-imposition of�sanctions on�the Middle Eastern country.

Trump�s statements have provoked criticism from�Tehran�and the other parties to�the 2016 deal�� the European Union and P5+1 countries (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, plus Germany).

EU, US DISAGREEMENTS

Christian Lequesne, a professor with�the Center of�International Studies at�the French Sciences Po university, pointed to�the clear difference between�the positions of�the European Union and the United States on�the JCPOA.

"It is Trump who wants to�review the agreement, which was negotiated long and hard, and the Europeans are not on�the same page with�Trump here. They have a different view, they want to�preserve the agreement how it was negotiated, and move toward�lifting the sanctions. Here we have a clear difference. In Russia you often hear term �the West� aimed to�describe Europe and the United States at�the same time, but�here is an example of�different positions Europe and the United States have," Lequesne told Sputnik.

According to�the expert, there was unanimity in�Europe on�adhering to�conditions of�the Iranian nuclear deal.
"I think that, as�far as�big European states are concerned, there is unanimity, be it London, Paris or Berlin,�� we agree that agreement with�Iran is a good deal. I do not know the position of�Warsaw or Budapest, but�in any case big European states stick to�this opinion," Lequesne said.


Thierry Coville, a researcher with�the French Institute for�International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS), also told Sputnik that there were concerns in�the European Union related to�the possible imposition of�sanctions on�Iran by�US lawmakers.

"[The EU parties to�the deal] would also be anxious if Congress votes for�the sanctions and the US leaves the deal, because there is no alternative to�this agreement," Coville pointed out.

The expert, who specializes on�Iran, noted that�Trump�did not "go to�the bottom" in�his declaration on�the deal, because he left Congress to�decide whether or not to�impose new sanctions.

"I do not think [Trump] really meant to�modify the agreement, there is a gap between�his statements and reality, and it is not at�all certain that the congress will review the sanctions. It still makes Europeans worry because they are committed to�this agreement. So I think that what�Europeans�will do is go to�the Congress and explain that one should not go back on�this agreement, that it works well � The IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] reports also show that Tehran respects the deal. So Europeans will turn to�the Congress to�show to�which extent they are committed to�this agreement," Coville pointed out.

Coville agreed that the EU leaders believe that the JCPOA was a "good agreement, which needs to�be respected," but�simultaneously share Trump�s concern about�Iran�s missile program and its role in�the region.
"On the one hand, they think that one should not touch the agreement, and, on�the other, they are not really far from�Trump, they just do not say it in�the same way, as�far as�Iranian missiles are concerned and Iran�s role as �stabilizer� in�the region. There are worries regarding its ballistic program and the role it plays in�Syria," the expert pointed out.


From Iran�s side, there is no desire to�renegotiate the deal too, Coville added, noting that during�the two years of�negotiations on�the JCPOA, various concessions had been made by�all sides of�the accord.

"On the other hand, what Europeans and Americans could agree on�is to�ask Iran to�renegotiate the question of�missiles and its role in�the region," Coville noted.

IRAN�S IMPORTANT ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST

Meanwhile, Coville ruled out�the possibility of�Iran engaging in�negotiations on�its ballistic missile program.
"As far as�its regional role is concerned, Iran has to�be involved in�the resolution of�the regional crisis, it needs to�play a constructive role, the way to�it has been paved with�the Astana agreement with�Turkey and Russia. And I think that Trump has to�change his way to�proceed if he wants new negotiations on�other issues," the expert suggested.


Lequesne shared the same view, stating that Iran was important for�Europe as�a significant player in�the Middle East.

"There are a number of�conflicts which you cannot resolve without�dialogue with�Iran. I am talking about�Syria, of�course. It is clear that�Iran�supports the government of�Bashar Assad. From this point of�view, its position is convergent to�that of�Russia. If one day we would want a dialogue with�Bashar Assad, engaging him in�a process of�diplomatic negotiations, the fact of�having good relationship with�Iran would be helpful," the expert explained.

Following Trump�s declaration, the European Union called on�the US congressmen to�preserve the Iranian nuclear deal, warning that the possibility of�scrapping it could threaten international security and damage diplomatic efforts to�defuse tension in�North Korea by�engaging in�a dialogue with�Pyongyang on�its nuclear program.