Sputnik- Germany, France and the UK have found themselves on the horns of a dilemma while striving to persuade Tehran and Washington to adopt a well-balanced approach to the international situation in wake of Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear accords.




The future of�the Joint Comprehensive Plan of�Action (JCPOA) is hanging in�the balance, as�both the US and the Islamic Republic of�Iran (IRI) have given the EU ultimatums.

While Donald Trump's sanctions targeting foreign businesses are due to�come into�force on�August 6, 2018, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has set conditions for�Iran to�remain in�the agreement with�a 60-day deadline.

The list of�Iranian conditions, announced by�Ayatollah Khamenei in�his May 23 government address contains seven points: First, according to�Ayatollah Khamenei, Europe should adopt a resolution that condemns the US for�violating the accord adopted unanimously by�the UN Security Council on�July 20, 2015. In Resolution 2231, the Security Council supported the signing of�the JCPOA and revoked its previous decisions on�the Iranian nuclear program.

Second, Europe must promise that it will not raise the issue of�missile creation in�Iran, and won't try to�influence Tehran's policy in�the region.

Third, the EU should not interfere in�the IRI's internal affairs. Fourth, Europe should oppose the US sanctions against�the Islamic Republic of�Iran. Fifth, Europe should "guarantee the total sales of�Iran's oil." In addition, the EU must guarantee that they will compensate for�the losses and that they will buy Iranian crude.

And, finally, Ayatollah Khamenei demanded that European banks ensure the conduct of�operations with�the IRI, emphasizing that Tehran has no conflicts with�the UK, France and Germany, but does not trust them nevertheless.

The supreme leader of�Iran warned that if the conditions are not met, the Islamic Republic "reserves the right to�restart its suspended nuclear activities."

It appears that European countries, especially the signatories to�the JCPOA�� Germany, the UK and France�� have found themselves between�a rock and a hard place: Although the countries have confirmed their commitment to�the nuclear accords, it remains unclear whether they will manage to�reach a compromise with�the US.

However, Brussels is seemingly not going to�give up: On May 18, the European Commission signaled that it had taken steps to�preserve the interests of�European companies investing in�Iran and demonstrated the bloc's commitment to�the JCPOA.
"As long as�the Iranians respect their commitments, the EU will of�course stick to�the agreement of�which it was an architect," stated President of�the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.


Meanwhile, following�Trump's unilateral withdrawal from�the deal on�May 8, High Representative Federica Mogherini met with�the foreign ministers of�France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Iran. The officials agreed to�adopt a series of�measures to�strengthen the deal.

"We are determined to�ensure that the JCPOA stays in�place� This is true on�the European side and we have seen the same willingness and determination on�the Iranian side," said Mogherini.

For their part, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire ��protested against�Washington's move and called upon�the EU to�shield the continent's businesses from�the US sanctions.

One of�the proposed measures is a "blocking statute," initially adopted in�1996 in�response to�US sanctions against�Iran, Cuba and Libya.
"As the European Commission we have the duty to�protect European companies. We now need to�act, and this is why we are launching the process to�activate the 'blocking statute' from�1996," Juncker stated on�May 17.


The document prohibited EU companies and individuals from�complying with�the rulings of�foreign courts adopted on�the basis of�US sanctions, as�the latter were extra-territorial in�nature. Two decades ago, Europe was also given ultimatums, however, that time Washington retreated.

Since Washington's wind-down period for�foreign companies expires on�August 6, the European Commission has to�make amendments to�the 1996 regulation before�this deadline.

In addition, Juncker announced that the European Investment Bank would facilitate European companies' investment in�Iran. This measure could ensure that Iran gains a profit from�crude sales regardless of�the US sanctions regime.

France also proposed creating a financial center that would allow European companies to�continue trade with�Iran in�euros, liberating them from�dependence on�the US dollar.
Still, London, Paris and Berlin are facing a serious dilemma: On the one hand, they have to�convince the US to�leave at�least a small opportunity for�the Europeans to�conduct business in�Iran. On the other hand, they need to�persuade the Iranian authorities to�see the situation more realistically and not to�push ahead with�tough ultimatums.