Channels

EU edges closer to new Iran sanctions ahead of Trump deadline, envoys say

BRUSSELS/PARIS – European Union governments are showing more support for the idea of new sanctions on Iran proposed by Britain, France and Germany as a way of dissuading US President Donald Trump from pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal, diplomats say.

 

London, Paris and Berlin angered their EU partners in March when they tried to move quickly with a proposal to impose sanctions on 15 senior Iranian officials, military figures and companies, before a May 12 deadline set by Trump.

 

But assurances from US government officials that such sanctions could influence Trump, who has given Europe until next month to "fix" what he says is "the worst deal ever negotiated", as well as a less confrontational approach by London, Paris and Berlin, appear to be winning other EU members over.

 

Diplomats also said EU governments were under more pressure to protest against Iran's role in Syria's civil war following an April 7 suspected chemical weapons attack near Damascus which the West blames on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.18.18, 18:09