UK Ambassador: US ‘maximum pressure’ on Iran will go nowhere
June 02, 2019 - Britain’s Ambassador to Tehran Rob Macaire said the US “maximum pressure” on Iran will go nowhere.
Despite some speculations that if the US pulls out of the nuclear deal, the UK would follow it, the British government is still committed to the implementation of the nuclear deal as long as Tehran does, Macaire told Karo Kargar newspaper.
Differences between Washington and London over Iran’s nuclear deal have cost us a lot, he said, adding, however, his country will remain committed to the deal so far as Iran does.
In May 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the deal, reached in July 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries – the US, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany – and decided to re-impose unilateral sanctions against Tehran.
The British official said that the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has left major negative effects on the deal and the European governments cannot fully compensate for these negative effects.
However, he said that the other signatories to the JCPOA are trying to make sure that Iran would enjoy the benefits promised in the nuclear deal.
Referring to a financial mechanism introduced by Europe to facilitate trade with Iran, he said that the important parts of the financial instrument are being implemented.
However, he added, “Bear in mind that the use of INSTEX solves only some of the Iranian banking problems caused by the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, not all of Iran's economic problems”.
France, Britain and Germany have set up the special purpose vehicle called INSTEX, a conduit for barter-based trade with Iran, in an effort to protect at least some of Iran’s economy against sweeping US sanctions and keep alive the nuclear deal.
Iran has repeatedly protested the Europe’s reluctant to fulfil their obligations under the deal.
On Saturday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said European countries have done nothing to actually fulfill their obligations under the landmark nuclear deal with Iran, producing only words about their “commitment” instead.