The U.S. has sought to form a pact with three European allies to improve the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in exchange for President Trump’s support of the agreement, which he has lamented in the past, according to a State Department cable obtained by Reuters.
Washington reportedly has set a lower standard for the European allies to follow in the pact, aiming to create a compromise between the powers.
“We are asking for your commitment that we should work together to seek a supplemental or follow-on agreement that addresses Iran’s development or testing long-range missiles, ensures strong [International Atomic Energy Agency] inspections, and fixes the flaws of the ‘sunset clause,’ ” the cable said, according to Reuters.
Trump has criticized the deal for the terms in which inspectors visit Iranian nuclear sites, its lack of addressing the country’s ballistic missile program, and the “sunset” provisions, which allow the restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program to expire after a decade.
While Trump has slammed the Obama-era agreement as the “worst deal ever negotiated,” the White House announced in January the president would again waive sanctions against Iran that were lifted in the deal.
European powers, who also played a major role in the 2015 negotiations, have reaffirmed their support for the deal in the face of criticism from Trump.
Source » thehill