After Britain, Germany has reacted with alarm Sunday to Iran's announcement that it would enrich uranium beyond levels allowed in its 2015 nuclear deal, just over a year after US President Donald Trump pulled out of the pact.

"We strongly urge Iran to stop and reverse all activities inconsistent with its commitments," a German foreign office spokesman was quoted as saying, naming production of larger quantities of low-enriched uranium as well as enrichment to higher levels than allowed.

"We are in contact with the other JCPoA participants regarding the next steps," Berlin added, referring to the 2015 agreement between Iran and six world powers including Russia, Germany, Britain and France.

Iran made the threat earlier Sunday to breach the pact by starting uranium enrichment above the agreed limit unless a solution with the global signatories can be found in the next two months.

The move comes after the United States quit the deal last year and began to reimpose sanctions against the Islamic Republic, urging European allies to follow suit.

China, France, Germany and Russia are the other parties in the deal.

(With AFP inputs)

After Britain, Germany has reacted with alarm Sunday to Iran's announcement that it would enrich uranium beyond levels allowed in its 2015 nuclear deal, just over a year after US President Donald Trump pulled out of the pact.

After Britain, Germany has reacted with alarm Sunday to Iran's announcement that it would enrich uranium beyond levels allowed in its 2015 nuclear deal, just over a year after US President Donald Trump pulled out of the pact. "We strongly urge Iran to stop and reverse all activities inconsistent with its commitments," a German foreign office spokesman was quoted as saying, naming production of larger quantities of low-enriched uranium as well as enrichment to higher levels than allowed. "We are in contact with the other JCPoA participants regarding the next steps," Berlin added, referring to the 2015 agreement between Iran and six world powers including Russia, Germany, Britain and France. Iran made the threat earlier Sunday to breach the pact by starting uranium enrichment above the agreed limit unless a solution with the global signatories can be found in the next two months. The move comes after the United States quit the deal last year and began to reimpose sanctions against the Islamic Republic, urging European allies to follow suit. China, France, Germany and Russia are the other parties in the deal. (With AFP inputs)

After Britain, Germany 'strongly urges' Iran to halt uranium enrichment

U.S calls for meet after Tehran breaches N-Deal. IAEA board of governers represent 35 nations. Experts said ''We have no idea that what this meeting will achieve''. Parties to the N-Deal already have a separate forum. Watch this video to know more.

U.S calls for IAEA emergency meet

U.S. calls for IAEA emergency meet

Iran has followed through on a threat to accelerate its production of enriched uranium, the head of the UN&nbsp;atomic watchdog said on Monday, departing from his usual guarded language to say he was worried about increasing tension.

The assessment comes at a time of sharply increased US-Iranian confrontation in recent weeks, a year after Washington abandoned an agreement between Iran and world powers to curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international financial sanctions.

Washington tightened sanctions from the start of May, ordering all countries and companies to halt all imports of Iranian oil or be banished from the global financial system. It has also dispatched extra troops to the region to counter what it describes as Iranian threats.

Iran has responded with a threat to increase its enrichment of uranium, saying it is up to Europeans who still support the nuclear deal to save it by finding ways to ensure Tehran gets the economic benefits it was promised.

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano, whose agency is responsible for monitoring Iranian compliance with the nuclear deal, said Iran was now producing more enriched uranium than before, but it was not clear when it might reach stockpile limits set in the pact.

“Yes, (the) production rate is increasing,” he told a news conference when asked if enriched uranium production had accelerated since the agency’s last quarterly report, which found Iran compliant with the nuclear deal as of May 20. He declined to quantify the increase.

Iran said last month it was still abiding by the deal but would quadruple its production of enriched uranium - a move that could take it out of compliance if stockpiles rise too far. It demanded European countries do more to shield it from sanctions.

On Monday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas became the most senior Western official to visit Iran since the new war of words erupted last month between Washington and Tehran.

“The situation in the region here is highly explosive and extremely serious,” Maas told a news conference alongside Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif. “A dangerous escalation of existing tensions can also lead to military escalation.”

In his meeting with Maas, President Hassan Rouhani blamed the United States for the soaring tension and called on the European signatories of the deal to “resist the economic war on Iran imposed by America”.

“This war ... will never be beneficial for any country and the Iranian people will resist these pressures and bullying behaviours,” Iran’s state TV quoted Rouhani as saying.

Zarif said Iran would cooperate with the European Union to save the deal. “Reducing tension is only possible through stopping the economic war by America,” he said. “Those who wage such wars cannot expect to remain safe.”

Maas called on Iran to avoid an escalation and stick to its commitments from the nuclear deal. Otherwise, Tehran would risk further isolation on the international stage and more instability in the region, Maas warned in an interview with ZDF television, broadcast shortly after his return to Berlin on Monday evening.

Reduce tensions through dialogue

Amano said he was worried about increasing tensions over the nuclear issue. He added he hoped “that ways can be found to reduce the current tensions through dialogue. It is essential that Iran fully implements its nuclear-related commitments” under the deal.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the IAEA findings showed “that Iran is going in the wrong direction and it underscores the continuing challenge Iran poses to international peace and security.”

Washington’s European allies opposed its decision last year to abandon the nuclear deal, reached in 2015 between Iran and the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China. They have promised to help Iran find other ways to trade, although with no success so far. All major European companies that had announced plans to invest in Iran have since called them off for fear of US&nbsp;punishment.

Iran says the Europeans have not done enough to provide it with alternative ways to trade.

“We have not seen any serious measures taken by the Europeans in the past year despite their fairly good political stance,” Rouhani said.

Maas said there were limits to how much help the European countries could provide.

“We want to fulfil our obligations,” Maas said during his news conference with Zarif. “We cannot work miracles, but we will try to avert a failure” of the nuclear deal.

France, Britain and Germany have set up a special-purpose vehicle called Instex, designed to allow payments to Iran that would legally bypass sanctions. It has yet to be launched.

It is a new instrument and not straightforward to put into effect, Maas told reporters, adding: “But all the formal requirements are in place now, and so I’m assuming we’ll be ready to use it in the foreseeable future.”

Washington has denounced the European plans. Diplomats say the system is unlikely to have much impact on commercial business with Iran but could be used for humanitarian transactions that are permitted under US&nbsp;sanctions.

The State Department’s Ortagus said the United States would not support any payment mechanism that allowed countries or businesses to conduct transactions with sanctioned Iranian entities.

Washington says the nuclear deal should be expanded to cover other issues including Iran’s missile program and its role in wars in the region. European countries argue that while they share those concerns, it would be harder to address them without the nuclear deal in place.

Iran has ruled out any negotiation over its ballistic missile program and its activities in the Middle East, where Tehran has been involved in proxy wars with Saudi Arabia for decades.

Iran has followed through on a threat to accelerate its production of enriched uranium, the head of the UN atomic watchdog said on Monday, departing from his usual guarded language to say he was worried about increasing tension.

Iran has followed through on a threat to accelerate its production of enriched uranium, the head of the UN atomic watchdog said on Monday, departing from his usual guarded language to say he was worried about increasing tension. The assessment comes at a time of sharply increased US-Iranian confrontation in recent weeks, a year after Washington abandoned an agreement between Iran and world powers to curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international financial sanctions. Washington tightened sanctions from the start of May, ordering all countries and companies to halt all imports of Iranian oil or be banished from the global financial system. It has also dispatched extra troops to the region to counter what it describes as Iranian threats. Iran has responded with a threat to increase its enrichment of uranium, saying it is up to Europeans who still support the nuclear deal to save it by finding ways to ensure Tehran gets the economic benefits it was promised. IAEA chief Yukiya Amano, whose agency is responsible for monitoring Iranian compliance with the nuclear deal, said Iran was now producing more enriched uranium than before, but it was not clear when it might reach stockpile limits set in the pact. “Yes, (the) production rate is increasing,” he told a news conference when asked if enriched uranium production had accelerated since the agency’s last quarterly report, which found Iran compliant with the nuclear deal as of May 20. He declined to quantify the increase. Iran said last month it was still abiding by the deal but would quadruple its production of enriched uranium - a move that could take it out of compliance if stockpiles rise too far. It demanded European countries do more to shield it from sanctions. On Monday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas became the most senior Western official to visit Iran since the new war of words erupted last month between Washington and Tehran. “The situation in the region here is highly explosive and extremely serious,” Maas told a news conference alongside Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif. “A dangerous escalation of existing tensions can also lead to military escalation.” In his meeting with Maas, President Hassan Rouhani blamed the United States for the soaring tension and called on the European signatories of the deal to “resist the economic war on Iran imposed by America”. “This war ... will never be beneficial for any country and the Iranian people will resist these pressures and bullying behaviours,” Iran’s state TV quoted Rouhani as saying. Zarif said Iran would cooperate with the European Union to save the deal. “Reducing tension is only possible through stopping the economic war by America,” he said. “Those who wage such wars cannot expect to remain safe.” Maas called on Iran to avoid an escalation and stick to its commitments from the nuclear deal. Otherwise, Tehran would risk further isolation on the international stage and more instability in the region, Maas warned in an interview with ZDF television, broadcast shortly after his return to Berlin on Monday evening. Reduce tensions through dialogue Amano said he was worried about increasing tensions over the nuclear issue. He added he hoped “that ways can be found to reduce the current tensions through dialogue. It is essential that Iran fully implements its nuclear-related commitments” under the deal. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the IAEA findings showed “that Iran is going in the wrong direction and it underscores the continuing challenge Iran poses to international peace and security.” Washington’s European allies opposed its decision last year to abandon the nuclear deal, reached in 2015 between Iran and the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China. They have promised to help Iran find other ways to trade, although with no success so far. All major European companies that had announced plans to invest in Iran have since called them off for fear of US punishment. Iran says the Europeans have not done enough to provide it with alternative ways to trade. “We have not seen any serious measures taken by the Europeans in the past year despite their fairly good political stance,” Rouhani said. Maas said there were limits to how much help the European countries could provide. “We want to fulfil our obligations,” Maas said during his news conference with Zarif. “We cannot work miracles, but we will try to avert a failure” of the nuclear deal. France, Britain and Germany have set up a special-purpose vehicle called Instex, designed to allow payments to Iran that would legally bypass sanctions. It has yet to be launched. It is a new instrument and not straightforward to put into effect, Maas told reporters, adding: “But all the formal requirements are in place now, and so I’m assuming we’ll be ready to use it in the foreseeable future.” Washington has denounced the European plans. Diplomats say the system is unlikely to have much impact on commercial business with Iran but could be used for humanitarian transactions that are permitted under US sanctions. The State Department’s Ortagus said the United States would not support any payment mechanism that allowed countries or businesses to conduct transactions with sanctioned Iranian entities. Washington says the nuclear deal should be expanded to cover other issues including Iran’s missile program and its role in wars in the region. European countries argue that while they share those concerns, it would be harder to address them without the nuclear deal in place. Iran has ruled out any negotiation over its ballistic missile program and its activities in the Middle East, where Tehran has been involved in proxy wars with Saudi Arabia for decades.

Iran has accelerated enrichment of uranium: IAEA

Iran is committed to its obligations under an international nuclear deal despite the US withdrawal from the landmark agreement, its foreign minister said on Thursday, calling the reimposition of sanctions by Washington "unacceptable".

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the comments in a meeting with his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo as tensions rise in the Middle East, fuelling concerns that the United States and Iran are heading for conflict.

Iran is exercising "maximum restraint in spite of the fact the United States withdrew from (the) JCPOA last May," Zarif said at the start of his meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.

He was referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed in 2015 by the United States, Iran and other countries, under which Tehran curbed its uranium enrichment capacity and won sanctions relief in return.

President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal last year and is ratcheting up sanctions on Iran, aiming to strangle its economy by ending its international sales of crude oil. Japan was a major buyer of Iranian oil for decades before the sanctions.

An attack on four oil tankers in the Gulf on Sunday, for which no one has claimed responsibility and Saudi Arabia's announcement on Tuesday that armed drones hit two of its oil pumping stations have raised tensions.

The United States withdrew staff from its embassy in Iraq on Wednesday out of apparent concern about perceived threats from Iran, with US sources saying they believe Tehran encouraged the attacks on the oil tankers.

Trump is sending an aircraft carrier group, B-52 bombers and Patriot missiles to the Middle East to counter what the United States calls a heightened threat from Iran to American soldiers and interests in the region.

"We believe that escalation by the United States is unacceptable and uncalled for," Zarif told Kono in front of reporters before they met privately.

Nevertheless, Iran has relaxed restrictions on its nuclear programme and threatened actions that may breach the nuclear deal, although the initial moves do not appear to violate the agreement.

"We are seriously concerned over the situation in the Middle East," Kono told Zarif. "I will spare no effort to ease tensions and try to resolve outstanding issues."

Kono said it was essential to maintain the nuclear agreement and urged Iran to keep implementing it, echoing other countries.

Asian shippers and refiners have put ships heading to the Middle East on alert and are expecting a possible rise in marine insurance premiums after recent attacks on Saudi oil tankers and pipeline facilities, industry sources said on Tuesday.

Iran is committed to its obligations under an international nuclear deal despite the US withdrawal from the landmark agreement, its foreign minister said on Thursday, calling the reimposition of sanctions by Washington "unacceptable".

Iran is committed to its obligations under an international nuclear deal despite the US withdrawal from the landmark agreement, its foreign minister said on Thursday, calling the reimposition of sanctions by Washington "unacceptable". Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the comments in a meeting with his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo as tensions rise in the Middle East, fuelling concerns that the United States and Iran are heading for conflict. Iran is exercising "maximum restraint in spite of the fact the United States withdrew from (the) JCPOA last May," Zarif said at the start of his meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono. He was referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed in 2015 by the United States, Iran and other countries, under which Tehran curbed its uranium enrichment capacity and won sanctions relief in return. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal last year and is ratcheting up sanctions on Iran, aiming to strangle its economy by ending its international sales of crude oil. Japan was a major buyer of Iranian oil for decades before the sanctions. An attack on four oil tankers in the Gulf on Sunday, for which no one has claimed responsibility and Saudi Arabia's announcement on Tuesday that armed drones hit two of its oil pumping stations have raised tensions. The United States withdrew staff from its embassy in Iraq on Wednesday out of apparent concern about perceived threats from Iran, with US sources saying they believe Tehran encouraged the attacks on the oil tankers. Trump is sending an aircraft carrier group, B-52 bombers and Patriot missiles to the Middle East to counter what the United States calls a heightened threat from Iran to American soldiers and interests in the region. "We believe that escalation by the United States is unacceptable and uncalled for," Zarif told Kono in front of reporters before they met privately. Nevertheless, Iran has relaxed restrictions on its nuclear programme and threatened actions that may breach the nuclear deal, although the initial moves do not appear to violate the agreement. "We are seriously concerned over the situation in the Middle East," Kono told Zarif. "I will spare no effort to ease tensions and try to resolve outstanding issues." Kono said it was essential to maintain the nuclear agreement and urged Iran to keep implementing it, echoing other countries. Asian shippers and refiners have put ships heading to the Middle East on alert and are expecting a possible rise in marine insurance premiums after recent attacks on Saudi oil tankers and pipeline facilities, industry sources said on Tuesday.

Iran says exercising restraint despite 'unacceptable' escalation of US sanctions

Iran announced on Wednesday it was scaling back curbs to its<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-will-not-allow-nuclear-armed-iran-benjamin-netanyahu-216991"> nuclear programme</a> under a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-will-resume-uranium-enrichment-if-world-powers-do-not-keep-nuclear-agreement-promise-rouhani-216939">2015 deal </a>with world powers and threatened to do more -- including enriching uranium to a higher level -- if countries did not shield it from US sanctions.

A year after Washington pulled out of the nuclear deal with Iran, President Hassan Rouhani unveiled measures that do not appear to violate the deal's terms yet, but could do so in the future if Iran were to persist on the course he set out.

Rouhani said Tehran would halt a programme to sell excess enriched uranium and heavy water to other countries, an arrangement used under the nuclear deal to keep its own stockpiles below permitted caps.

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And he threatened that in 60 days Iran would resume enrichment of uranium beyond the low level permitted under the deal, unless the five other powers signed up to it find a way to protect Iran's oil and banking industries from US sanctions.

"If the five countries came to the negotiating table and we reached an agreement, and if they could protect our interests in the oil and banking sectors, we will go back to square one," Rouhani said.

"The Iranian people and the world should know that today is not the end of the&nbsp;Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action&nbsp;(JCPOA)," he said, using the acronym for the nuclear deal. "These are actions in line with the JCPOA."

The 2015 deal was signed between Iran, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. Iran agreed to curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions.

Washington's European allies opposed President Donald Trump's decision to pull out. They have tried to find ways to blunt the economic impact of new US sanctions in the hope of persuading Tehran to continue to abide by it. However, their efforts have largely failed, with all major European companies abandoning plans to do business with Iran for fear of US punishment.

France's defence minister said she wanted to keep the nuclear deal alive and warned Iran it could face more sanctions if it did not honour its part of the deal.

"Today nothing would be worse than Iran, itself, leaving this agreement," Florence Parly told BFM TV.

China said the agreement should be implemented and called on all sides to avoid an escalation of tensions.

Tensions

The weeks leading up to the anniversary of Trump's withdrawal from the agreement have seen a sharp tightening of US sanctions and an increase in tensions on other fronts.

From this month, Washington has effectively ordered countries around the world to stop buying any Iranian oil or face sanctions of their own, revoking waivers that had allowed some countries to continue buying Iranian oil. It says it aims to reduce Iranian crude exports to zero.

Washington has also blacklisted Iran's Revolutionary Guards force as a terrorist organisation and Iran responded with threats to close the Gulf's strait of Hormuz if its ships were blocked there.

Washington announced the deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Gulf to counter what it says are Iranian threats. Tehran says the USS Abraham Lincoln is replacing another carrier that had already left the area under a scheduled rotation and calls the announcement "psychological warfare" based on old news.

The looming total ban on oil sales is likely to sharply increase the economic hardship for Iran's 80 million people, and finding a response is the biggest test yet for Rouhani, a pragmatist who has faced strong opposition from the hardline faction of Iran's leadership throughout his six years in office.

The nuclear deal was the flagship policy of Rouhani, who won two landslide elections on promises to end Iran's isolation and open its economy up to the world. The ultimate authority in Iran is in the hands of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, a cleric in power since 1989, who signed off on the nuclear deal but remains close to the hardline faction that challenges Rouhani.

Washington's European allies say Trump's repudiation of the deal hurts the pragmatic wing of Iran's leadership and plays into the hands of hardliners. It means ordinary Iranians see no economic benefits from Rouhani's efforts to open the country.

The Trump administration argues that the deal, negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama, was flawed because it is not permanent, does not address Iran's missile programme and does not punish Iran for meddling in the affairs of other countries.

Trump's hard line is backed by Israel and by Washington's Arab allies in the Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which see Iran as a foe and which gain leverage over global oil prices by keeping Iranian crude off the market.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted: "After a year of patience, Iran stops measures that US has made impossible to continue." Zarif said the remaining countries had a "narrowing window" to save the deal. 
&nbsp;

Iran announced on Wednesday it was scaling back curbs to its nuclear programme under a 2015 deal with world powers and threatened to do more -- including enriching uranium to a higher level -- if countries did not shield it from US sanctions.

Iran announced on Wednesday it was scaling back curbs to its nuclear programme under a 2015 deal with world powers and threatened to do more -- including enriching uranium to a higher level -- if countries did not shield it from US sanctions. A year after Washington pulled out of the nuclear deal with Iran, President Hassan Rouhani unveiled measures that do not appear to violate the deal's terms yet, but could do so in the future if Iran were to persist on the course he set out. Rouhani said Tehran would halt a programme to sell excess enriched uranium and heavy water to other countries, an arrangement used under the nuclear deal to keep its own stockpiles below permitted caps. × And he threatened that in 60 days Iran would resume enrichment of uranium beyond the low level permitted under the deal, unless the five other powers signed up to it find a way to protect Iran's oil and banking industries from US sanctions. "If the five countries came to the negotiating table and we reached an agreement, and if they could protect our interests in the oil and banking sectors, we will go back to square one," Rouhani said. "The Iranian people and the world should know that today is not the end of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)," he said, using the acronym for the nuclear deal. "These are actions in line with the JCPOA." The 2015 deal was signed between Iran, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. Iran agreed to curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. Washington's European allies opposed President Donald Trump's decision to pull out. They have tried to find ways to blunt the economic impact of new US sanctions in the hope of persuading Tehran to continue to abide by it. However, their efforts have largely failed, with all major European companies abandoning plans to do business with Iran for fear of US punishment. France's defence minister said she wanted to keep the nuclear deal alive and warned Iran it could face more sanctions if it did not honour its part of the deal. "Today nothing would be worse than Iran, itself, leaving this agreement," Florence Parly told BFM TV. China said the agreement should be implemented and called on all sides to avoid an escalation of tensions. Tensions The weeks leading up to the anniversary of Trump's withdrawal from the agreement have seen a sharp tightening of US sanctions and an increase in tensions on other fronts. From this month, Washington has effectively ordered countries around the world to stop buying any Iranian oil or face sanctions of their own, revoking waivers that had allowed some countries to continue buying Iranian oil. It says it aims to reduce Iranian crude exports to zero. Washington has also blacklisted Iran's Revolutionary Guards force as a terrorist organisation and Iran responded with threats to close the Gulf's strait of Hormuz if its ships were blocked there. Washington announced the deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Gulf to counter what it says are Iranian threats. Tehran says the USS Abraham Lincoln is replacing another carrier that had already left the area under a scheduled rotation and calls the announcement "psychological warfare" based on old news. The looming total ban on oil sales is likely to sharply increase the economic hardship for Iran's 80 million people, and finding a response is the biggest test yet for Rouhani, a pragmatist who has faced strong opposition from the hardline faction of Iran's leadership throughout his six years in office. The nuclear deal was the flagship policy of Rouhani, who won two landslide elections on promises to end Iran's isolation and open its economy up to the world. The ultimate authority in Iran is in the hands of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, a cleric in power since 1989, who signed off on the nuclear deal but remains close to the hardline faction that challenges Rouhani. Washington's European allies say Trump's repudiation of the deal hurts the pragmatic wing of Iran's leadership and plays into the hands of hardliners. It means ordinary Iranians see no economic benefits from Rouhani's efforts to open the country. The Trump administration argues that the deal, negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama, was flawed because it is not permanent, does not address Iran's missile programme and does not punish Iran for meddling in the affairs of other countries. Trump's hard line is backed by Israel and by Washington's Arab allies in the Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which see Iran as a foe and which gain leverage over global oil prices by keeping Iranian crude off the market. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted: "After a year of patience, Iran stops measures that US has made impossible to continue." Zarif said the remaining countries had a "narrowing window" to save the deal.

Iran rolls back nuclear commitments under pact abandoned by Washington

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, during his meeting with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt in Tehran on Monday, stated that Iran is used to pressuring and will survive the newly imposed US sanctions.&nbsp;

He added that Tehran will resist the pressure imposed by the United States and will even thrive while surviving it.&nbsp;Zarif called for a political commitment from Britain on the nuclear deal.&nbsp;

Britain's Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt was in Tehran on Monday on his first official visit in Tehran to hold talks with Iranian authorities on issues including the future of the 2015 nuclear deal.

"The Europeans should accelerate their efforts to save the deal...We are ready for all scenarios, including a return to pre-deal era," the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, told Hunt, Iranian state television reported.

Hunt said Britain was committed to the nuclear deal and discussed European efforts to maintain nuclear-related sanctions relief, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported.

"The Iran nuclear deal remains a vital component of stability in the Middle East by eliminating the threat of a nuclearised Iran. It needs 100 per cent compliance though to survive," Hunt said in a statement ahead of the visit.

The top diplomats also discussed the conflict in Yemen and other issues in meetings.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday said <a href="http://wioneews.com/world/rouhani-says-iran-to-continue-oil-exports-and-resist-us-economic-war-178271">Tehran will continue to export oil despite US sanctions</a>, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

"We will not yield to this pressure, which is part of the psychological war launched against Iran," Rouhani said in a speech in the city of Khoy, broadcast live on state television.&nbsp;

"They have failed to stop our oil exports. We will keep exporting it ... Your regional policies have failed and you blame Iran for that failure from Afghanistan to Yemen and Syria," he added.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, during his meeting with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt in Tehran on Monday, stated that Iran is used to pressuring and will survive the newly imposed US sanctions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, during his meeting with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt in Tehran on Monday, stated that Iran is used to pressuring and will survive the newly imposed US sanctions. He added that Tehran will resist the pressure imposed by the United States and will even thrive while surviving it. Zarif called for a political commitment from Britain on the nuclear deal. Britain's Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt was in Tehran on Monday on his first official visit in Tehran to hold talks with Iranian authorities on issues including the future of the 2015 nuclear deal. "The Europeans should accelerate their efforts to save the deal...We are ready for all scenarios, including a return to pre-deal era," the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, told Hunt, Iranian state television reported. Hunt said Britain was committed to the nuclear deal and discussed European efforts to maintain nuclear-related sanctions relief, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported. "The Iran nuclear deal remains a vital component of stability in the Middle East by eliminating the threat of a nuclearised Iran. It needs 100 per cent compliance though to survive," Hunt said in a statement ahead of the visit. The top diplomats also discussed the conflict in Yemen and other issues in meetings. Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday said Tehran will continue to export oil despite US sanctions, news agency Reuters reported. "We will not yield to this pressure, which is part of the psychological war launched against Iran," Rouhani said in a speech in the city of Khoy, broadcast live on state television. "They have failed to stop our oil exports. We will keep exporting it ... Your regional policies have failed and you blame Iran for that failure from Afghanistan to Yemen and Syria," he added. (With inputs from Reuters)

Won't yield to this pressure, will survive and thrive: Iran on newly imposed US sanctions

&nbsp;Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has sought unconditional compensation from the fellow signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) after the US pulled out of the Iran deal.

Taking to Twitter, Zarif said that the United States has violated international law by abandoning the agreement and Tehran expects unconditional compensation from other parties of JCPOA if Washington re-imposes nuclear-based sanctions on Iran.

"My letter to fellow foreign ministers on steps to take to address US` unlawful withdrawal from JCPOA.&nbsp; Its ever-expanding economic bullying requires action to save not just the accord, but multilateralism and the rule of law," Zarif tweeted.

If JCPOA is to survive, the remaining JCPOA participants and other economic partners need to ensure that Iran is compensated unconditionally through appropriate national, regional and global measures," Sputnik quoted Zarif as saying.

The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, earlier in a tweet, accused Germany, France and the United Kingdom for staying silent when the United States violated the 2015 agreement.

Zarif also condemned the US secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he threatened to impose the "strongest sanctions in the history" of Iran, last month.

On&nbsp;May 8, US President Donald Trump announced the Washington withdrawal from the JCPOA which limited the country's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

Calling the accord as an "embarrassment" that was "defective at its core", he also warned of severe consequences if Iran resumes its nuclear programme.

The Iran nuclear deal was signed between six countries in 2015 - Iran, US, Britain, Germany, Russia, France and China for lifting economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limitations to the country's nuclear programme.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has sought unconditional compensation from the fellow signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) after the US pulled out of the Iran deal

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has sought unconditional compensation from the fellow signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) after the US pulled out of the Iran deal. Taking to Twitter, Zarif said that the United States has violated international law by abandoning the agreement and Tehran expects unconditional compensation from other parties of JCPOA if Washington re-imposes nuclear-based sanctions on Iran. "My letter to fellow foreign ministers on steps to take to address US` unlawful withdrawal from JCPOA. Its ever-expanding economic bullying requires action to save not just the accord, but multilateralism and the rule of law," Zarif tweeted. If JCPOA is to survive, the remaining JCPOA participants and other economic partners need to ensure that Iran is compensated unconditionally through appropriate national, regional and global measures," Sputnik quoted Zarif as saying. The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, earlier in a tweet, accused Germany, France and the United Kingdom for staying silent when the United States violated the 2015 agreement. Zarif also condemned the US secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he threatened to impose the "strongest sanctions in the history" of Iran, last month. On May 8, US President Donald Trump announced the Washington withdrawal from the JCPOA which limited the country's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. Calling the accord as an "embarrassment" that was "defective at its core", he also warned of severe consequences if Iran resumes its nuclear programme. The Iran nuclear deal was signed between six countries in 2015 - Iran, US, Britain, Germany, Russia, France and China for lifting economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limitations to the country's nuclear programme.

Iran asks JCPOA's signatories for unconditional compensation

The bloc's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Monday said, the European Union (EU) wants to preserve the landmark Iran nuclear deal for security interests.

"For us, this is not about economic interest this is about security interests for the EU," Xinhua quoted Mogherini as saying.

The remark was made at a press conference following the EU's monthly Foreign Affairs Council.

Since the day the United States (US) pulled out of the deal, Mogherini, on different occasions, assured Iran saying, as long as Iran abides by all its nuclear-related commitments, the EU will stick to the deal.

Last week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US will "crush" Iran with military pressure and by imposing sanctions till the time it changes its behaviour in the Middle East.

Pompeo also said the US will monitor Tehran's regional activities, restrict its influence in the Middle East and ensure that it never acquires a nuclear weapon.

On May 8, US President Donald Trump announced the Washington withdrawal from the JCPOA or the Iran nuclear deal which limited the country's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

The Iran nuclear deal was signed between six countries in 2015 - Iran, US, Britain, Germany, Russia, France and China for lifting economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limitations to the country's nuclear programme.

The remark was made at a press conference following the EU's monthly Foreign Affairs Council

The bloc's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Monday said, the European Union (EU) wants to preserve the landmark Iran nuclear deal for security interests. "For us, this is not about economic interest this is about security interests for the EU," Xinhua quoted Mogherini as saying. The remark was made at a press conference following the EU's monthly Foreign Affairs Council. Since the day the United States (US) pulled out of the deal, Mogherini, on different occasions, assured Iran saying, as long as Iran abides by all its nuclear-related commitments, the EU will stick to the deal. Last week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US will "crush" Iran with military pressure and by imposing sanctions till the time it changes its behaviour in the Middle East. Pompeo also said the US will monitor Tehran's regional activities, restrict its influence in the Middle East and ensure that it never acquires a nuclear weapon. On May 8, US President Donald Trump announced the Washington withdrawal from the JCPOA or the Iran nuclear deal which limited the country's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. The Iran nuclear deal was signed between six countries in 2015 - Iran, US, Britain, Germany, Russia, France and China for lifting economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limitations to the country's nuclear programme.

European Union to preserve Iran nuclear deal for security concerns

It seems unlikely that Iran will meet the new demands made by the United States after its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the Iran nuclear deal, while the withdrawal’s fallout will continue, according to some experts on international affairs.

The experts made the remarks in a current affairs commenting program of the China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Sunday when commenting on US&nbspSecretary of State Mike Pompeo’s recent statement on Iran such as demanding Iran to cease its uranium enrichment, stop supporting Houthi rebels in Yemen and withdraw all its forces from Syria.

Hua Liming, former Chinese ambassador to Iran, said the US&nbspdemands are seeking to overturn the Iranian regime.

"What President Trump and Secretary of State Pompeo said, that was kind of regime change in Iran. That means Iran, the regime will collapse at all, because this is the basis of the Iranian regime now. And I have read in the news that the Iranian leader, Khamenei just put these questions: no discussion about the ballistic missile, no discussion about Iranian regional role and no discussion about 'sunset' at articles. So this is the answer of the Iranians," said Hua.

Iran will not give up its uranium enrichment, which was allowed within stringent limitations by the JCPOA, as demanded by the Trump administration, according to Meir Javendanfar, an Israel-based expert on Middle East affairs.

"This is just the pipe dream to think that the Iranian regime, whatever you think of it, is going to completely give up enrichment. In Iran the enrichment program and the right to enrich is a very much part of the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It would be extremely difficult, if not politically suicidal, for the supreme leader to agree to such a term. So, on the one hand, I think they are unreasonable, but on the other hand, I have to be absolutely honest with you, I think President Trump made a terrible mistake to walk out of the deal," he said.

As a US&nbspcitizen, Eward Lehman, also a senior fellow with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said he is disappointed at the US&nbspgovernment’s discard of direct diagloue with Iran.

"I understand people can polarize on issues, but I think when the United States doesn't have a direct dialogue, that's not good for anybody and for people and I understand what our Israeli friend was saying as well. I mean trying to poison deals and that's really not helpful. We are all humans in the world here, we are all trying to get along and that's what I find is the worst, but I agree with them, I think that it's going to be very difficult, a bridge too far probably to make," said Lehman.

Javendanfar believes that the US&nbspwithdrawal will continue to jeopardize the JCPOA, as the European negotiators could eventually turn to the US&nbspside.

"I think it won't be long before Iran walks away from the deal, because the Europeans are not going to be able to make up the loss which America has left behind. From my conversation with some European officials, they said that, 'look we can't force our companies to do business with Iran'," he said.

However, China will continue to go all-out in safeguarding the deal, according to Hua.

"China has announced that China will remain in the JCPOA, because China has been one of the major contributors of the JCPOA in the long discussions, the long negotiations for 18 months. So this is the fruit of the efforts of the five plus one. China will not easily give up the JCPOA," said the former diplomat.

Iran will not give up its uranium enrichment, which was allowed within stringent limitations by the JCPOA, as demanded by the Trump administration, according to Meir Javendanfar, an Israel-based expert on Middle East affairs

It seems unlikely that Iran will meet the new demands made by the United States after its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the Iran nuclear deal, while the withdrawal’s fallout will continue, according to some experts on international affairs. The experts made the remarks in a current affairs commenting program of the China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Sunday when commenting on US&nbspSecretary of State Mike Pompeo’s recent statement on Iran such as demanding Iran to cease its uranium enrichment, stop supporting Houthi rebels in Yemen and withdraw all its forces from Syria. Hua Liming, former Chinese ambassador to Iran, said the US&nbspdemands are seeking to overturn the Iranian regime. "What President Trump and Secretary of State Pompeo said, that was kind of regime change in Iran. That means Iran, the regime will collapse at all, because this is the basis of the Iranian regime now. And I have read in the news that the Iranian leader, Khamenei just put these questions: no discussion about the ballistic missile, no discussion about Iranian regional role and no discussion about 'sunset' at articles. So this is the answer of the Iranians," said Hua. Iran will not give up its uranium enrichment, which was allowed within stringent limitations by the JCPOA, as demanded by the Trump administration, according to Meir Javendanfar, an Israel-based expert on Middle East affairs. "This is just the pipe dream to think that the Iranian regime, whatever you think of it, is going to completely give up enrichment. In Iran the enrichment program and the right to enrich is a very much part of the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It would be extremely difficult, if not politically suicidal, for the supreme leader to agree to such a term. So, on the one hand, I think they are unreasonable, but on the other hand, I have to be absolutely honest with you, I think President Trump made a terrible mistake to walk out of the deal," he said. As a US&nbspcitizen, Eward Lehman, also a senior fellow with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said he is disappointed at the US&nbspgovernment’s discard of direct diagloue with Iran. "I understand people can polarize on issues, but I think when the United States doesn't have a direct dialogue, that's not good for anybody and for people and I understand what our Israeli friend was saying as well. I mean trying to poison deals and that's really not helpful. We are all humans in the world here, we are all trying to get along and that's what I find is the worst, but I agree with them, I think that it's going to be very difficult, a bridge too far probably to make," said Lehman. Javendanfar believes that the US&nbspwithdrawal will continue to jeopardize the JCPOA, as the European negotiators could eventually turn to the US&nbspside. "I think it won't be long before Iran walks away from the deal, because the Europeans are not going to be able to make up the loss which America has left behind. From my conversation with some European officials, they said that, 'look we can't force our companies to do business with Iran'," he said. However, China will continue to go all-out in safeguarding the deal, according to Hua. "China has announced that China will remain in the JCPOA, because China has been one of the major contributors of the JCPOA in the long discussions, the long negotiations for 18 months. So this is the fruit of the efforts of the five plus one. China will not easily give up the JCPOA," said the former diplomat.

Iran unlikely to meet US demands after JCPOA pullout: Experts

The United States on Monday demanded Iran make sweeping changes -- from dropping its nuclear program to pulling out of the Syrian civil war -- or face severe economic sanctions as the Trump administration hardened its approach to Tehran.

Iran dismissed Washington's ultimatum and one senior Iranian official said it showed the United States is seeking "regime change" in Iran.

Weeks after President Donald Trump pulled out of an international nuclear deal with Iran, his administration threatened to impose "the strongest sanctions in history," and vowed to "crush" Iranian operatives abroad, setting Washington and Tehran further on a course of confrontation.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanded sweeping changes that would force Iran effectively to reverse the recent spread of its military and political influence through the Middle East to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

The speech added to the tension between the two countries, which grew notably when Trump this month withdrew from the 2015 international agreement aimed at preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

If Washington sees tangible shifts in Iran's policies, it is prepared to lift sanctions, Pompeo said.

"The sting of sanctions will only grow more painful if the regime does not change course from the unacceptable and unproductive path it has chosen for itself and the people of Iran," Pompeo said in his first major speech since becoming secretary of state.

"These will be the strongest sanctions in history by the time we are done," he added.

The European Union largely dismissed Pompeo's speech and said it remained committed to the full implementation of the nuclear deal.

Pompeo took aim at Iran's policy of expansion in the Middle East through support for armed groups in countries such as Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

He warned that the United States would "crush" Iranian operatives and proxies abroad and told Tehran to pull out forces under its command from the Syrian civil war where they have helped President Bashar al-Assad gain the upper hand.

Iran's president summarily dismissed Pompeo's demands.

"Who are you to decide for Iran and the world?," the semi-official ILNA news agency quoted Hassan Rouhani as saying.

"The world today does not accept America to decide for the world, as countries are independent ... that era is over ... We will continue our path with the support of our nation."

A senior Iranian official said Pompeo's remarks showed that the United States was pushing for "regime change," a charged phrase often associated with the US&nbsp;invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the overthrow of President Saddam Hussein.

Pompeo warned that if Iran fully resumed its nuclear program Washington would be ready to respond and said the administration would hold companies doing prohibited business in Iran to account.

"Our demands on Iran are not unreasonable: give up your program," Pompeo said, "Should they choose to go back, should they begin to enrich, we are fully prepared to respond to that as well," he said, declining to elaborate.

Pompeo said Washington would work with the Defense Department and allies to counter Iran in the cyberspace and maritime areas.

The Pentagon said it would take all necessary steps to confront Iranian behavior in the region and was assessing whether that could include new actions or doubling down on current ones.

Pompeo will have an uphill battle convincing European allies to sign on to the administration's "Plan B" on Iran after its withdrawal from the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"Secretary Pompeo’s speech has not demonstrated how walking away from the JCPOA has made or will make the region safer from the threat of nuclear proliferation or how it puts us in a better position to influence Iran’s conduct in areas outside the scope of JCPOA. There is no alternative to the JCPOA," the EU said in a statement.

Naming names

Pompeo said if Iran made major changes, the United States was prepared to ease sanctions, re-establish full diplomatic and commercial relations and support the country's re-integration into the international economic system.

Any new US&nbsp;sanctions will raise the cost of trade for Iran and are expected to further deter Western companies from investing there, giving hardliners, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an opportunity to cement their grip on power.

Iran's ruling elite are mindful of recent protests sparked by economic hardship, which is, in part, their calculation for working with the Europeans on ways to salvage the nuclear deal.

Pompeo's speech did not explicitly call for regime change but he repeatedly urged the Iranian people not to put up with their leaders, specifically naming Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

"At the end of the day the Iranian people will get to make a choice about their leadership," Pompeo said.

Suzanne Maloney, deputy director of the Brooking Institution think tank's foreign policy program, said Pompeo's speech did indeed amount to a strategy of regime change.

"There is only one way to read it and that is that Trump administration has wedded itself to a regime-change strategy to Iran, one that is likely to alienate our allies. One with dubious prospects for success," she said.

The administration's approach "explicitly puts the onus on the Iranian people to change their leadership or face cataclysmic financial pressure," said Maloney who has advised the State Department on Iran in the Bush administration between 2005-2007.

Lebanese analyst Ghaleb Kandil, who has close ties to the pro-Iran Hezbollah group, said Washington's demands have previously not worked.

"These are conditions that were tested in previous phases of American pressures, before the nuclear deal, when Iran was in more difficult circumstances than it is in these days, and it did not surrender to these conditions or accept them," said Kandil.

Pompeo outlined 12 US&nbsp;demands for Iran including to stop uranium enrichment, never to pursue plutonium reprocessing and to close its heavy water reactor.

It also had to declare all previous military dimensions of its nuclear program and to permanently and verifiably abandon such work, he said.

Pompeo's demand that Tehran stop uranium enrichment goes even further than the nuclear deal. Iran says its nuclear work has medical uses and will produce energy to meet domestic demand and complement its oil reserves.

Washington's regional allies, the Gulf Arabs and Israel, who were strong critics of the deal, praised the administration's position on Monday.

European parties to the nuclear deal - France, Britain and Germany - are working to find a way to keep the nuclear pact in effect after Washington's exit.

Iran dismissed Washington's ultimatum and one senior Iranian official said it showed the United States is seeking 'regime change' in Iran

The United States on Monday demanded Iran make sweeping changes -- from dropping its nuclear program to pulling out of the Syrian civil war -- or face severe economic sanctions as the Trump administration hardened its approach to Tehran. Iran dismissed Washington's ultimatum and one senior Iranian official said it showed the United States is seeking "regime change" in Iran. Weeks after President Donald Trump pulled out of an international nuclear deal with Iran, his administration threatened to impose "the strongest sanctions in history," and vowed to "crush" Iranian operatives abroad, setting Washington and Tehran further on a course of confrontation. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanded sweeping changes that would force Iran effectively to reverse the recent spread of its military and political influence through the Middle East to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The speech added to the tension between the two countries, which grew notably when Trump this month withdrew from the 2015 international agreement aimed at preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. If Washington sees tangible shifts in Iran's policies, it is prepared to lift sanctions, Pompeo said. "The sting of sanctions will only grow more painful if the regime does not change course from the unacceptable and unproductive path it has chosen for itself and the people of Iran," Pompeo said in his first major speech since becoming secretary of state. "These will be the strongest sanctions in history by the time we are done," he added. The European Union largely dismissed Pompeo's speech and said it remained committed to the full implementation of the nuclear deal. Pompeo took aim at Iran's policy of expansion in the Middle East through support for armed groups in countries such as Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. He warned that the United States would "crush" Iranian operatives and proxies abroad and told Tehran to pull out forces under its command from the Syrian civil war where they have helped President Bashar al-Assad gain the upper hand. Iran's president summarily dismissed Pompeo's demands. "Who are you to decide for Iran and the world?," the semi-official ILNA news agency quoted Hassan Rouhani as saying. "The world today does not accept America to decide for the world, as countries are independent ... that era is over ... We will continue our path with the support of our nation." A senior Iranian official said Pompeo's remarks showed that the United States was pushing for "regime change," a charged phrase often associated with the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the overthrow of President Saddam Hussein. Pompeo warned that if Iran fully resumed its nuclear program Washington would be ready to respond and said the administration would hold companies doing prohibited business in Iran to account. "Our demands on Iran are not unreasonable: give up your program," Pompeo said, "Should they choose to go back, should they begin to enrich, we are fully prepared to respond to that as well," he said, declining to elaborate. Pompeo said Washington would work with the Defense Department and allies to counter Iran in the cyberspace and maritime areas. The Pentagon said it would take all necessary steps to confront Iranian behavior in the region and was assessing whether that could include new actions or doubling down on current ones. Pompeo will have an uphill battle convincing European allies to sign on to the administration's "Plan B" on Iran after its withdrawal from the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "Secretary Pompeo’s speech has not demonstrated how walking away from the JCPOA has made or will make the region safer from the threat of nuclear proliferation or how it puts us in a better position to influence Iran’s conduct in areas outside the scope of JCPOA. There is no alternative to the JCPOA," the EU said in a statement. Naming names Pompeo said if Iran made major changes, the United States was prepared to ease sanctions, re-establish full diplomatic and commercial relations and support the country's re-integration into the international economic system. Any new US sanctions will raise the cost of trade for Iran and are expected to further deter Western companies from investing there, giving hardliners, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an opportunity to cement their grip on power. Iran's ruling elite are mindful of recent protests sparked by economic hardship, which is, in part, their calculation for working with the Europeans on ways to salvage the nuclear deal. Pompeo's speech did not explicitly call for regime change but he repeatedly urged the Iranian people not to put up with their leaders, specifically naming Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. "At the end of the day the Iranian people will get to make a choice about their leadership," Pompeo said. Suzanne Maloney, deputy director of the Brooking Institution think tank's foreign policy program, said Pompeo's speech did indeed amount to a strategy of regime change. "There is only one way to read it and that is that Trump administration has wedded itself to a regime-change strategy to Iran, one that is likely to alienate our allies. One with dubious prospects for success," she said. The administration's approach "explicitly puts the onus on the Iranian people to change their leadership or face cataclysmic financial pressure," said Maloney who has advised the State Department on Iran in the Bush administration between 2005-2007. Lebanese analyst Ghaleb Kandil, who has close ties to the pro-Iran Hezbollah group, said Washington's demands have previously not worked. "These are conditions that were tested in previous phases of American pressures, before the nuclear deal, when Iran was in more difficult circumstances than it is in these days, and it did not surrender to these conditions or accept them," said Kandil. Pompeo outlined 12 US demands for Iran including to stop uranium enrichment, never to pursue plutonium reprocessing and to close its heavy water reactor. It also had to declare all previous military dimensions of its nuclear program and to permanently and verifiably abandon such work, he said. Pompeo's demand that Tehran stop uranium enrichment goes even further than the nuclear deal. Iran says its nuclear work has medical uses and will produce energy to meet domestic demand and complement its oil reserves. Washington's regional allies, the Gulf Arabs and Israel, who were strong critics of the deal, praised the administration's position on Monday. European parties to the nuclear deal - France, Britain and Germany - are working to find a way to keep the nuclear pact in effect after Washington's exit.

US demands Iran make sweeping changes or face severe economic sanctions

The United States on Sunday said it hopes to use strong shared interests that have emerged with its European Union partners in recent months to move forward on addressing Iran's nuclear programme, missile development and role in regional conflicts.

A State Department official said the shared interests could form a 'foundation to continue to work together moving forward.'

Iran said on Sunday that it would join a meeting with diplomats from Britain, Germany, France, China and Russia in Vienna on Friday to discuss next steps after the May 8 decision by US&nbspPresident Donald Trump to exit the 2015 nuclear accord.

It said Washington would not participate in the meeting of the joint commission set up by the six world powers, Iran and the European Union to handle any complaints about the deal's implementation.

The German newspaper Welt am Sonntag cited an unnamed senior EU official as saying there were also discussions about a possible new pact between Iran and world powers that would cover the same ground as the 2015 deal but with some additions to appease the United States.

These could include provisions to address US&nbspconcerns over Iran's ballistic missile programme and Tehran's support of armed groups in the Middle East, the source said.

"We have to get away from the name 'Vienna nuclear agreement' and add in a few additional elements. Only that will convince President Trump to agree and lift sanctions again," the senior EU official told the paper.

Such an agreement could in the future include financial aid for Iran, the report said.

The State Department official said Washington hoped the EU would focus "on the central issue here: &nbspIran's multiple set of malign behaviors with regard to its nuclear program, missile development, terrorism, regional conflicts, and other issues."

Three EU sources who were part of negotiations to keep Trump from quitting the nuclear deal said Friday's meeting would address only the implementation of the 2015 deal, but not offer Iran financial aid in exchange for concessions.

In Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi rejected reports of a proposed new agreement as "irrelevant claims", the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

"A meeting set for the next few days for the first joint commission without the United States ... will only cover issues of the nuclear accord between Iran and the other members," Qasemi said.

Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on state television that the "joint commission ... will be held at Iran's request, and without the United States, to discuss the consequences of America's withdrawal, and how the remaining countries can continue their commitment to the deal."

On Monday, US&nbspSecretary of State Mike Pompeo will outline a "diplomatic roadmap" and call for broad support from European and other allies to apply pressure on Iran to force it back to the negotiating table, as well as their support to address "the totality of Iran's threats".&nbsp

A State Department official said the shared interests could form a 'foundation to continue to work together moving forward'

The United States on Sunday said it hopes to use strong shared interests that have emerged with its European Union partners in recent months to move forward on addressing Iran's nuclear programme, missile development and role in regional conflicts. A State Department official said the shared interests could form a 'foundation to continue to work together moving forward.' Iran said on Sunday that it would join a meeting with diplomats from Britain, Germany, France, China and Russia in Vienna on Friday to discuss next steps after the May 8 decision by US&nbspPresident Donald Trump to exit the 2015 nuclear accord. It said Washington would not participate in the meeting of the joint commission set up by the six world powers, Iran and the European Union to handle any complaints about the deal's implementation. The German newspaper Welt am Sonntag cited an unnamed senior EU official as saying there were also discussions about a possible new pact between Iran and world powers that would cover the same ground as the 2015 deal but with some additions to appease the United States. These could include provisions to address US&nbspconcerns over Iran's ballistic missile programme and Tehran's support of armed groups in the Middle East, the source said. "We have to get away from the name 'Vienna nuclear agreement' and add in a few additional elements. Only that will convince President Trump to agree and lift sanctions again," the senior EU official told the paper. Such an agreement could in the future include financial aid for Iran, the report said. The State Department official said Washington hoped the EU would focus "on the central issue here: &nbspIran's multiple set of malign behaviors with regard to its nuclear program, missile development, terrorism, regional conflicts, and other issues." Three EU sources who were part of negotiations to keep Trump from quitting the nuclear deal said Friday's meeting would address only the implementation of the 2015 deal, but not offer Iran financial aid in exchange for concessions. In Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi rejected reports of a proposed new agreement as "irrelevant claims", the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. "A meeting set for the next few days for the first joint commission without the United States ... will only cover issues of the nuclear accord between Iran and the other members," Qasemi said. Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on state television that the "joint commission ... will be held at Iran's request, and without the United States, to discuss the consequences of America's withdrawal, and how the remaining countries can continue their commitment to the deal." On Monday, US&nbspSecretary of State Mike Pompeo will outline a "diplomatic roadmap" and call for broad support from European and other allies to apply pressure on Iran to force it back to the negotiating table, as well as their support to address "the totality of Iran's threats".

US sees strong shared interests with EU on Iran concerns

Within a week of US President Donald Trump announcing America's pullout from the Iran nuclear accord, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.&nbsp;

Both the leaders met in Beijing earlier today where Zarif hoped that China and other countries will be able to "construct a clear future design" for the nuclear agreement.

According to reports, President Hassan Rouhani has asked Zarif to get European countries, like China and Russia, to take measures that could save the nuke deal post United States' exit.&nbsp;

Zarif is scheduled to leave for Russia after his China visit from where he will head to Brussels to meet foreign ministers from Germany, Britain and France and discuss the "fate of the nuclear deal".

&nbsp;

According to reports, President Hassan Rouhani has asked Zarif to get European countries to take measures that could save the nuke deal

Within a week of US President Donald Trump announcing America's pullout from the Iran nuclear accord, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Both the leaders met in Beijing earlier today where Zarif hoped that China and other countries will be able to "construct a clear future design" for the nuclear agreement. According to reports, President Hassan Rouhani has asked Zarif to get European countries, like China and Russia, to take measures that could save the nuke deal post United States' exit. Zarif is scheduled to leave for Russia after his China visit from where he will head to Brussels to meet foreign ministers from Germany, Britain and France and discuss the "fate of the nuclear deal".

Iran-China meet over nuke deal after US exit

Iran's foreign minister was due to leave Saturday for a whirlwind diplomatic tour as world leaders scramble to salvage something from the wreckage of a landmark nuclear deal in the wake of Washington's withdrawal.

Mohammad Javad Zarif's tour starts two days after unprecedented Israeli strikes in Syria which a monitor said killed at least 11 Iranian fighters, triggering fears of a broader conflict between the two arch-enemies.

He will visit Beijing, Moscow and Brussels, a spokesman said, holding meetings with all of the remaining parties to the 2015 agreement.

Before leaving, Zarif published a government statement on his Twitter page, slamming the "extremist administration" of US President Donald Trump for abandoning "an accord recognised as a victory of diplomacy by the international community".&nbsp

It reiterated that Iran was preparing to resume "industrial-scale" uranium enrichment "without any restrictions" unless Europe provided solid guarantees that it could maintain trade ties despite renewed US sanctions.&nbsp

Zarif's delicate diplomatic mission was complicated by reports of clashes between Iranian and Israeli forces in Syria on Thursday.

The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said Saturday that 11 Iranians were among the pro-regime fighters killed in strikes by Israel, which has vowed to prevent Iran gaining a military foothold in neighbouring Syria.

"Six Syrian soldiers and 21 foreign fighters, including 11 Iranians" were among the dead, said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.&nbsp

Tehran, which has sought to avoid an escalation in regional conflict that could alienate its European partners, has not commented on whether its forces were hit.&nbsp

Israel and its allies have blamed the Iranian Revolutionary Guards for initiating Thursday's exchange by launching missiles into the occupied Golan Heights.&nbsp

The White House backed Israel's claims, accusing Iran of "reckless actions" that posed a "severe threat" to stability in the Middle East.

Iran denies that version of events, saying the Israeli strikes were launched on "invented pretexts".&nbsp

Diplomats fume at Trump

Meanwhile, European diplomats in Tehran fumed that Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal could undermine years of patient work to restore commercial and diplomatic ties with the Islamic Republic.&nbsp

"Since the signing of the JCPOA (nuclear deal), we have gone from an atmosphere like a gold rush, to one of utter depression," said a Western trade diplomat on condition of anonymity.&nbsp

"We are waiting now for how the decision-makers in the European Union will react. If the EU leans towards accommodating the US, all the progress we have made since 2015 will be lost."

But she emphasised that many of the problems began long before Trump's move last Tuesday.

"Decisions on the Iranian side took longer than expected, international banks were reluctant to work with Iran and the recent decline in the value of (Iran's currency) made international business even more difficult," she said.&nbsp

Iranian hardliners -- who have long opposed President Hassan Rouhani's moves to improve ties with the West -- are already mobilising against the efforts to save the nuclear deal.

"Officials shouldn't trust France and Britain. They will never abandon the US for us," said housewife Poormoslem at a protest rally against Trump on Friday.

A photo on the official Instagram site of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei showed him reading a Farsi translation of Michael Wolff's scabrous account of the Trump White House, "The Fire and the Fury", quickly picking up more than 100,000 likes.&nbsp

Khamenei said this week he is highly doubtful that Europe will provide the "real guarantees" needed for Iran to stay in the nuclear deal.&nbsp

But analysts said Iran was determined to maintain the moral high ground in the coming weeks.

"For the first time, Iran has the chance to show the world they are not the rogue nation they are always presented as, that they negotiated in good faith and keep to their commitments," said Karim Emile Bitar of the Institute for International and Strategic Studies in Paris.

The challenge for Rouhani is to maintain his diplomatic efforts in the face of mounting challenges at home, where Iranians were already suffering high unemployment and inflation before Trump's decision.&nbsp

Many say sanctions allow the government to blame outsiders for its own bad decisions.&nbsp

The Western trade diplomat gave the example of Iran's recent restrictions on transferring funds to the EU -- an effort to control the rapid slide of the rial -- that caused huge problems for importers.&nbsp

"It's really annoying that the Iranian government is never blamed for the really bad decisions they have taken lately concerning business, and only the sanctions are blamed," she said.&nbsp 
&nbsp

Iran's foreign minister will visit Beijing, Moscow and Brussels, a spokesman said

Iran's foreign minister was due to leave Saturday for a whirlwind diplomatic tour as world leaders scramble to salvage something from the wreckage of a landmark nuclear deal in the wake of Washington's withdrawal. Mohammad Javad Zarif's tour starts two days after unprecedented Israeli strikes in Syria which a monitor said killed at least 11 Iranian fighters, triggering fears of a broader conflict between the two arch-enemies. He will visit Beijing, Moscow and Brussels, a spokesman said, holding meetings with all of the remaining parties to the 2015 agreement. Before leaving, Zarif published a government statement on his Twitter page, slamming the "extremist administration" of US President Donald Trump for abandoning "an accord recognised as a victory of diplomacy by the international community". It reiterated that Iran was preparing to resume "industrial-scale" uranium enrichment "without any restrictions" unless Europe provided solid guarantees that it could maintain trade ties despite renewed US sanctions. Zarif's delicate diplomatic mission was complicated by reports of clashes between Iranian and Israeli forces in Syria on Thursday. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said Saturday that 11 Iranians were among the pro-regime fighters killed in strikes by Israel, which has vowed to prevent Iran gaining a military foothold in neighbouring Syria. "Six Syrian soldiers and 21 foreign fighters, including 11 Iranians" were among the dead, said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman. Tehran, which has sought to avoid an escalation in regional conflict that could alienate its European partners, has not commented on whether its forces were hit. Israel and its allies have blamed the Iranian Revolutionary Guards for initiating Thursday's exchange by launching missiles into the occupied Golan Heights. The White House backed Israel's claims, accusing Iran of "reckless actions" that posed a "severe threat" to stability in the Middle East. Iran denies that version of events, saying the Israeli strikes were launched on "invented pretexts". Diplomats fume at Trump Meanwhile, European diplomats in Tehran fumed that Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal could undermine years of patient work to restore commercial and diplomatic ties with the Islamic Republic. "Since the signing of the JCPOA (nuclear deal), we have gone from an atmosphere like a gold rush, to one of utter depression," said a Western trade diplomat on condition of anonymity. "We are waiting now for how the decision-makers in the European Union will react. If the EU leans towards accommodating the US, all the progress we have made since 2015 will be lost." But she emphasised that many of the problems began long before Trump's move last Tuesday. "Decisions on the Iranian side took longer than expected, international banks were reluctant to work with Iran and the recent decline in the value of (Iran's currency) made international business even more difficult," she said. Iranian hardliners -- who have long opposed President Hassan Rouhani's moves to improve ties with the West -- are already mobilising against the efforts to save the nuclear deal. "Officials shouldn't trust France and Britain. They will never abandon the US for us," said housewife Poormoslem at a protest rally against Trump on Friday. A photo on the official Instagram site of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei showed him reading a Farsi translation of Michael Wolff's scabrous account of the Trump White House, "The Fire and the Fury", quickly picking up more than 100,000 likes. Khamenei said this week he is highly doubtful that Europe will provide the "real guarantees" needed for Iran to stay in the nuclear deal. But analysts said Iran was determined to maintain the moral high ground in the coming weeks. "For the first time, Iran has the chance to show the world they are not the rogue nation they are always presented as, that they negotiated in good faith and keep to their commitments," said Karim Emile Bitar of the Institute for International and Strategic Studies in Paris. The challenge for Rouhani is to maintain his diplomatic efforts in the face of mounting challenges at home, where Iranians were already suffering high unemployment and inflation before Trump's decision. Many say sanctions allow the government to blame outsiders for its own bad decisions. The Western trade diplomat gave the example of Iran's recent restrictions on transferring funds to the EU -- an effort to control the rapid slide of the rial -- that caused huge problems for importers. "It's really annoying that the Iranian government is never blamed for the really bad decisions they have taken lately concerning business, and only the sanctions are blamed," she said.

Iran minister on diplomatic tour to save nuclear deal

"I will be announcing my decision on the Iran Deal tomorrow from the White House at 2:00 pm," that is how the US President decided to escalate tensions and tease the Iran nuke deal issue further.

While all eyes are set on the fate of the 'landmark' nuclear accord, signed in the year 2015 between Iran and the P5 +1 countries, Trump's announcement is likely to create an aftermath which will ripple across the world for long.&nbsp;

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I will be announcing my decision on the Iran Deal tomorrow from the White House at 2:00pm.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/993562242124865536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/a-timeline-of-trumps-statements-on-the-iran-nuclear-deal-135463">Trump's opposition towards the deal</a> was quite<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/a-timeline-of-trumps-statements-on-the-iran-nuclear-deal-135463"> out in the public</a> ever since he started campaigning for the US Presidential elections 2016. During his campaign, Trump had openly expressed dissatisfaction with the deal and had vowed to scrap the accord on the very first day of assuming office... it didn't happen.&nbsp;

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<h5>"Never ever ever in my life have I seen any transaction so incompetently negotiated as our deal with Iran -- and I mean never," Donald Trump as Republican presidential candidate, September 9, 2015, Washington DC</h5>
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What did happen was Trump administration's growing persistence in slapping more sanctions on Tehran and lobbying against the deal that Trump recently described as a "MESS" created by former US Secretary of State, John Kerry.&nbsp;

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The United States does not need John Kerry’s possibly illegal Shadow Diplomacy on the very badly negotiated Iran Deal. He was the one that created this MESS in the first place!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/993492804985872385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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It all started last year when Donald Trump accused Tehran of not complying with the nuke pact. He went on to state that the deal was not aligned with America's national interest. The US President described the deal as "one-sided" maintaining that it did not target Iran’s ballistic missile programme as well as its role in the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

Trump went on to rake the fire further by imposing more sanctions on Iran. In July 2017, Washington announced fresh sanctions against Iran, targeting 18 individuals or entities for supporting the country's ballistic missile programme or radical groups.

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<h5>Trump described the deal as "one-sided" that it did not target Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its role in the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Yemen.</h5>
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"In response to these continued Iranian threats, the Administration today announces that it has designated 18 entities and individuals supporting Iran's ballistic missile programme and for supporting Iran's military procurement or Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as an Iran-based transnational criminal organisation and associated persons," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert announced.

Ms Nauert also accused Iran of supporting radical groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad "that threaten Israel and stability in the Middle East".

Iran continues to test and develop ballistic missiles in direct defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, the spokesperson said.

It has been a longstanding complaint that the previous administration allowed the nuclear deal to be the "tail that wags the Iran policy dog", the official said, adding that the Trump administration is determined to not repeat that mistake.

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<h5>"The previous administration allowed the nuclear deal to be the tail that wags the Iran policy dog," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert.</h5>
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Donald Trump then went to seek a Congressional nod on measures that could have tightened the nuke deal further, calling for more stringent sanctions on Tehran -- the proposal fell flat, the Congress didn't pass any bill that would “address the deal’s many flaws” that the US President referred to.

Trump, having left with no option, made demands on the nuclear accord, threatening to pull out in case his demands are not met.&nbsp;

Trump noted that unless European allies fix the "terrible flaws" in the Iran nuclear deal by May 12, he will refuse to extend sanctions relief for oil-producing Iran. He had previously termed the deal as "terrible", "insane" and "ridiculous".

Iran has put forward a stern stance on the accord stating Donald Trump's demand to amend Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers was unacceptable. The country warned the United States of facing "regret of historic proportions" if it quits the deal.&nbsp;

"We have plans to resist any decision by Trump on the nuclear accord. If America leaves the nuclear accord, this will entail historic remorse for it," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a speech.&nbsp;

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's theatrical presentation last month on&nbsp;'evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons program' further&nbsp;pressured Trump, suggesting United States' exit as inevitable.&nbsp;

French President and a close political ally of the US President, Emmanuel Macron, has expressed great distress over the scenario around the JCPOA. Macron had previously noted that he sees no "Plan-B" for the deal and that the deal can't have an alternative.&nbsp;

Macron recently anticipated United States' exit from the 2015 nuke accord fueled by "his (Trump's) own domestic reasons”.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-options-on-iran-nuclear-deal-135293">What could be Trump's possible options on Iran nuclear deal?</a>

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<h5>Trump will get rid of this deal on his own for domestic reasons: French President Emmanuel Macron</h5>
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Britain, France and Germany proposed fresh EU sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missiles and its role in Syria’s war, in a bid to persuade US President Donald Trump to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. US sanctions will resume unless Trump issues fresh “waivers” to suspend them on May 12.

UN secretary-general, António Guterres also emphasised the need for the deal to stay stating that no deal should be scrapped until there is a better agreement or an alternative in place. He called the accord a diplomatic victory which should be preserved.&nbsp;

Reports suggest that an alternative Iran nuke agreement may already be underway to mitigate the aftermath in case Trump pronounces measures unfavourable to the deal. However, the biggest challenge will be to get Trump to accept the result.

JCPOA's fate will be sealed in a few hours from now, according to Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs Minister of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/what-could-iran-do-if-trump-pulls-out-of-nuclear-deal-135382">Iran</a>, Trump's exit from the agreement, "would be a very bad precedent if the United States sends this message to the international community that the length or the duration of any agreement would depend on the duration of the presidency".&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

Trump's opposition toward the deal was quite out in the public ever since he started campaigning for the US Presidential elections in 2016

"I will be announcing my decision on the Iran Deal tomorrow from the White House at 2:00 pm," that is how the US President decided to escalate tensions and tease the Iran nuke deal issue further. While all eyes are set on the fate of the 'landmark' nuclear accord, signed in the year 2015 between Iran and the P5 +1 countries, Trump's announcement is likely to create an aftermath which will ripple across the world for long. I will be announcing my decision on the Iran Deal tomorrow from the White House at 2:00pm. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 7, 2018 × Trump's opposition towards the deal was quite out in the public ever since he started campaigning for the US Presidential elections 2016. During his campaign, Trump had openly expressed dissatisfaction with the deal and had vowed to scrap the accord on the very first day of assuming office... it didn't happen. "Never ever ever in my life have I seen any transaction so incompetently negotiated as our deal with Iran -- and I mean never," Donald Trump as Republican presidential candidate, September 9, 2015, Washington DC × What did happen was Trump administration's growing persistence in slapping more sanctions on Tehran and lobbying against the deal that Trump recently described as a "MESS" created by former US Secretary of State, John Kerry. The United States does not need John Kerry’s possibly illegal Shadow Diplomacy on the very badly negotiated Iran Deal. He was the one that created this MESS in the first place! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 7, 2018 × It all started last year when Donald Trump accused Tehran of not complying with the nuke pact. He went on to state that the deal was not aligned with America's national interest. The US President described the deal as "one-sided" maintaining that it did not target Iran’s ballistic missile programme as well as its role in the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Trump went on to rake the fire further by imposing more sanctions on Iran. In July 2017, Washington announced fresh sanctions against Iran, targeting 18 individuals or entities for supporting the country's ballistic missile programme or radical groups. Trump described the deal as "one-sided" that it did not target Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its role in the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Yemen. × "In response to these continued Iranian threats, the Administration today announces that it has designated 18 entities and individuals supporting Iran's ballistic missile programme and for supporting Iran's military procurement or Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as an Iran-based transnational criminal organisation and associated persons," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert announced. Ms Nauert also accused Iran of supporting radical groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad "that threaten Israel and stability in the Middle East". Iran continues to test and develop ballistic missiles in direct defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, the spokesperson said. It has been a longstanding complaint that the previous administration allowed the nuclear deal to be the "tail that wags the Iran policy dog", the official said, adding that the Trump administration is determined to not repeat that mistake. "The previous administration allowed the nuclear deal to be the tail that wags the Iran policy dog," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert. × Donald Trump then went to seek a Congressional nod on measures that could have tightened the nuke deal further, calling for more stringent sanctions on Tehran -- the proposal fell flat, the Congress didn't pass any bill that would “address the deal’s many flaws” that the US President referred to. Trump, having left with no option, made demands on the nuclear accord, threatening to pull out in case his demands are not met. Trump noted that unless European allies fix the "terrible flaws" in the Iran nuclear deal by May 12, he will refuse to extend sanctions relief for oil-producing Iran. He had previously termed the deal as "terrible", "insane" and "ridiculous". Iran has put forward a stern stance on the accord stating Donald Trump's demand to amend Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers was unacceptable. The country warned the United States of facing "regret of historic proportions" if it quits the deal. "We have plans to resist any decision by Trump on the nuclear accord. If America leaves the nuclear accord, this will entail historic remorse for it," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a speech. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's theatrical presentation last month on 'evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons program' further pressured Trump, suggesting United States' exit as inevitable. French President and a close political ally of the US President, Emmanuel Macron, has expressed great distress over the scenario around the JCPOA. Macron had previously noted that he sees no "Plan-B" for the deal and that the deal can't have an alternative. Macron recently anticipated United States' exit from the 2015 nuke accord fueled by "his (Trump's) own domestic reasons”. Also Read: What could be Trump's possible options on Iran nuclear deal? Trump will get rid of this deal on his own for domestic reasons: French President Emmanuel Macron × Britain, France and Germany proposed fresh EU sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missiles and its role in Syria’s war, in a bid to persuade US President Donald Trump to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. US sanctions will resume unless Trump issues fresh “waivers” to suspend them on May 12. UN secretary-general, António Guterres also emphasised the need for the deal to stay stating that no deal should be scrapped until there is a better agreement or an alternative in place. He called the accord a diplomatic victory which should be preserved. Reports suggest that an alternative Iran nuke agreement may already be underway to mitigate the aftermath in case Trump pronounces measures unfavourable to the deal. However, the biggest challenge will be to get Trump to accept the result. JCPOA's fate will be sealed in a few hours from now, according to Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs Minister of Iran, Trump's exit from the agreement, "would be a very bad precedent if the United States sends this message to the international community that the length or the duration of any agreement would depend on the duration of the presidency". (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why Donald Trump wants to scrap Iran nuclear deal so badly

President Donald Trump is expected to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear agreement on May 12. Tehran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain, and the United States in 2015.

Iran agreed to curbs on its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions. But the withdrawal of the United States will probably sink the deal. If that happens, Iran could retaliate by undermining the interests of Washington and its allies in the Middle East.

Here are some possible scenarios:

Iraq

When Islamic State seized much of Iraq in 2014, Iran was quick to support Baghdad. Iran has since helped arm and train thousands of Shi'ite fighters in Iraq. These Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) are also a significant political force.

If the deal falls through, Iran could encourage PMF factions who want the US&nbspto leave Iraq to step up rhetorical, and maybe military, attacks against American forces.

These could be rocket, mortar and roadside bomb attacks not directly linked to a specific Shi'ite militia, which would allow Iran to deny it had changed its position of avoiding direct conflict with US&nbspforces in Iraq.

Syria

Iran and paramilitary allies such as Lebanon's Hezbollah have been involved in Syria's war since 2012. Iran has armed and trained thousands of Shi'ite paramilitary fighters to shore up the government. Israel says Iran has recruited at least 80,000 Shi'ite fighters.

Iran's presence in Syria has brought Tehran into direct conflict with Israel for the first time, with a series of high-profile clashes in recent months. Israeli officials say they will never let Tehran or Hezbollah establish a permanent military presence in neighbouring Syria.

If the nuclear deal falls through, Iran will have little incentive to stop its Shi'ite militia allies in Syria from carrying out attacks against Israel.

Iran and the forces it controls in Syria could also cause trouble for about 2,000 US&nbsptroops deployed in northern and eastern Syria to support Kurdish-led fighters.

A top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader said in April he hoped Syria and its allies would drive US&nbsptroops out of eastern Syria.

Lebanon

In 2006, Hezbollah fought Israel to a standstill in a 34-day border war. According to Israeli and US&nbspofficials, Iran is now helping Hezbollah build factories to manufacture precision-guided missiles or refit longer-range missiles with precision guidance systems.

Israeli forces have repeatedly attacked Hezbollah in Syria where the group is leading many of Iran's Shi'ite militia allies. The rhetoric between Israel and Iran has ramped up in recent weeks. Though Hezbollah and Israel say they are not interested in conflict, the tensions could easily spill over into another Lebanon war.

Hezbollah said last year that any war waged by Israel against Syria and Lebanon could draw thousands of fighters from countries including Iran and Iraq, indicating that Shi'ite militias could come to Lebanon to help Hezbollah.

Hezbollah is also a major political force in Lebanon, and may strengthen its position at elections on May 6. For the moment, the group is working with its political opponents, notably Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, who is backed by Western governments.

But if the nuclear deal falls through, Iran could pressure Hezbollah to isolate its opponents, a development experts believe could destabilise Lebanon.

"Hezbollah literally controls Lebanese politics," said Hilal Khashan, a professor of political studies at the American University of Beirut. "If they do that, it would be sheer harassment."

Yemen

Iran has never acknowledged direct military involvement in Yemen. But US&nbspand Saudi officials say it is supplying rebel Houthi fighters with missiles and other arms. The Houthis have fired missiles at Riyadh and Saudi oil facilities, saying they are retaliating against air raids on Yemen.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are locked in a regional power struggle. Supporters of the Iran nuclear deal say it has prevented the conflict from descending into open warfare. If the deal falls through, Iran could increase support for the Houthis, possibly provoking a military response from Saudi Arabia and Gulf allies such as the United Arab Emirates.

"I'm not ruling out Iranian support to the Houthis," said Khashan

Treaty

Iran also has options directly related to its nuclear programme. Iranian officials have said that one option they are examining is to withdraw completely from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), an agreement designed to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the country is not interested in developing nuclear weapons. But if Iran withdraws from the NPT, it will set off alarm bells globally.

"This would of course be a disastrous course for the Islamic Republic, as it will find itself isolated," said Ali Alfoneh, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Even if Iran does not withdraw from the NPT, it has indicated that it will probably ramp up enrichment of uranium, strictly limited under the deal to help allay fears it could be used to produce atomic bomb material. Under the current deal, Iran's enrichment levels must remain around 3.6 percent. Iran stopped producing 20 percent enriched uranium and gave up the majority of its stockpile as part of the 2015 agreement.

Uranium refined to 20 percent fissile purity is beyond the 5 percent normally required to fuel civilian nuclear power plants, although short of highly enriched, or 80 to 90 percent, purity needed for a nuclear bomb.

This week, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, said Iran was able to enrich uranium to a higher level than it could before the deal.

Iran's actions may be influenced by the extent to which the other signatories to the deal respond to US&nbspwithdrawal, according to analysts.

That will depend on: the extent to which France, Germany and Britain insist that their companies can continue to do business with Iran under what is an international agreement ratified unanimously by the UN Security Council the level of diplomatic support for Iran from Russia, its partner in Syria and how much China wishes to bind Iran into its Belt and Road foreign trade and investment initiative.

There will be a test of wills if the Trump administration restores sanctions and threatens violators with being shut out of the US&nbspbanking system. Of the other signatories only China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, is able to brush this off.

If the deal falls through, Iran could encourage PMF factions who want the US to leave Iraq to step up rhetorical, and maybe military, attacks against American forces

President Donald Trump is expected to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear agreement on May 12. Tehran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain, and the United States in 2015. Iran agreed to curbs on its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions. But the withdrawal of the United States will probably sink the deal. If that happens, Iran could retaliate by undermining the interests of Washington and its allies in the Middle East. Here are some possible scenarios: Iraq When Islamic State seized much of Iraq in 2014, Iran was quick to support Baghdad. Iran has since helped arm and train thousands of Shi'ite fighters in Iraq. These Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) are also a significant political force. If the deal falls through, Iran could encourage PMF factions who want the US&nbspto leave Iraq to step up rhetorical, and maybe military, attacks against American forces. These could be rocket, mortar and roadside bomb attacks not directly linked to a specific Shi'ite militia, which would allow Iran to deny it had changed its position of avoiding direct conflict with US&nbspforces in Iraq. Syria Iran and paramilitary allies such as Lebanon's Hezbollah have been involved in Syria's war since 2012. Iran has armed and trained thousands of Shi'ite paramilitary fighters to shore up the government. Israel says Iran has recruited at least 80,000 Shi'ite fighters. Iran's presence in Syria has brought Tehran into direct conflict with Israel for the first time, with a series of high-profile clashes in recent months. Israeli officials say they will never let Tehran or Hezbollah establish a permanent military presence in neighbouring Syria. If the nuclear deal falls through, Iran will have little incentive to stop its Shi'ite militia allies in Syria from carrying out attacks against Israel. Iran and the forces it controls in Syria could also cause trouble for about 2,000 US&nbsptroops deployed in northern and eastern Syria to support Kurdish-led fighters. A top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader said in April he hoped Syria and its allies would drive US&nbsptroops out of eastern Syria. Lebanon In 2006, Hezbollah fought Israel to a standstill in a 34-day border war. According to Israeli and US&nbspofficials, Iran is now helping Hezbollah build factories to manufacture precision-guided missiles or refit longer-range missiles with precision guidance systems. Israeli forces have repeatedly attacked Hezbollah in Syria where the group is leading many of Iran's Shi'ite militia allies. The rhetoric between Israel and Iran has ramped up in recent weeks. Though Hezbollah and Israel say they are not interested in conflict, the tensions could easily spill over into another Lebanon war. Hezbollah said last year that any war waged by Israel against Syria and Lebanon could draw thousands of fighters from countries including Iran and Iraq, indicating that Shi'ite militias could come to Lebanon to help Hezbollah. Hezbollah is also a major political force in Lebanon, and may strengthen its position at elections on May 6. For the moment, the group is working with its political opponents, notably Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, who is backed by Western governments. But if the nuclear deal falls through, Iran could pressure Hezbollah to isolate its opponents, a development experts believe could destabilise Lebanon. "Hezbollah literally controls Lebanese politics," said Hilal Khashan, a professor of political studies at the American University of Beirut. "If they do that, it would be sheer harassment." Yemen Iran has never acknowledged direct military involvement in Yemen. But US&nbspand Saudi officials say it is supplying rebel Houthi fighters with missiles and other arms. The Houthis have fired missiles at Riyadh and Saudi oil facilities, saying they are retaliating against air raids on Yemen. Iran and Saudi Arabia are locked in a regional power struggle. Supporters of the Iran nuclear deal say it has prevented the conflict from descending into open warfare. If the deal falls through, Iran could increase support for the Houthis, possibly provoking a military response from Saudi Arabia and Gulf allies such as the United Arab Emirates. "I'm not ruling out Iranian support to the Houthis," said Khashan Treaty Iran also has options directly related to its nuclear programme. Iranian officials have said that one option they are examining is to withdraw completely from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), an agreement designed to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the country is not interested in developing nuclear weapons. But if Iran withdraws from the NPT, it will set off alarm bells globally. "This would of course be a disastrous course for the Islamic Republic, as it will find itself isolated," said Ali Alfoneh, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Even if Iran does not withdraw from the NPT, it has indicated that it will probably ramp up enrichment of uranium, strictly limited under the deal to help allay fears it could be used to produce atomic bomb material. Under the current deal, Iran's enrichment levels must remain around 3.6 percent. Iran stopped producing 20 percent enriched uranium and gave up the majority of its stockpile as part of the 2015 agreement. Uranium refined to 20 percent fissile purity is beyond the 5 percent normally required to fuel civilian nuclear power plants, although short of highly enriched, or 80 to 90 percent, purity needed for a nuclear bomb. This week, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, said Iran was able to enrich uranium to a higher level than it could before the deal. Iran's actions may be influenced by the extent to which the other signatories to the deal respond to US&nbspwithdrawal, according to analysts. That will depend on: the extent to which France, Germany and Britain insist that their companies can continue to do business with Iran under what is an international agreement ratified unanimously by the UN Security Council the level of diplomatic support for Iran from Russia, its partner in Syria and how much China wishes to bind Iran into its Belt and Road foreign trade and investment initiative. There will be a test of wills if the Trump administration restores sanctions and threatens violators with being shut out of the US&nbspbanking system. Of the other signatories only China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, is able to brush this off.

What could Iran do if Trump pulls out of nuclear deal?

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said he would announce a decision on the future of the Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday at 2.pm (United States time) as European countries piled pressure on Washington to remain in the 2015 agreement.

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Trump has threatened to withdraw from the deal, which provided Iran with relief from economic sanctions in exchange for limiting its uranium enrichment capacity unless European signatories to the accord fix what he has called its shortcomings.

Trump has until May 12 to decide whether to reintroduce US&nbsp;sanctions on Iran, which would deal a heavy blow to the agreement.

While all eyes are set at the US President's landmark announcement on one of the biggest nuclear agreements of all times, here's a quick look at some of his statements on the nuclear accord.

1. "Never ever ever in my life have I seen any transaction so incompetently negotiated as our deal with Iran -- and I mean never," Donald Trump as&nbsp;Republican presidential candidate on September 9, 2015, Washington DC.

2. "Because they're not stupid people (the Iranians), they're very smart people and they're great negotiators, and in two days they get a check for one hundred fifty billion dollars. OK? They don't want to take a --- see, the difference is if they did that with me, I'd say you're not getting your money back, you're in default for what you did, no -- you're in default,"&nbsp;Donald Trump as&nbsp;Republican presidential candidate in Iowa, January 15, 2016.

3. "They are not living up to the spirit of the agreement, I can tell you that, and we are analyzing it very, very carefully and we'll have something to say about it in the not-too-distant future. But Iran has not lived up to the spirit of the agreement," Donald Trump as US President on April 20, 2017, Washington DC.&nbsp;

4. "But it was a terrible, a terrible thing for the United States to enter that deal and believe me Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, that I can tell you," Donald Trump on May 22, 2017, Jerusalem.&nbsp;

5. "If that deal doesn't conform to what it's supposed to conform to, there's going to be big big problems for them, that I can tell you. You're going to see that," Trump in Ohio, US on July 25, 2017.

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6. "The Iran deal was one of the worst and one-side transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it. Believe me," Donald Trump at the United Nations, September&nbsp;19, 2017.

7. "Today, I am announcing our strategy along with several major steps we are taking to confront the training regimes hostile actions and to ensure that Iran never and I mean never acquires a nuclear weapon,"&nbsp;US President in Washington DC, October 13, 2017

8. "In the event we are not able to reach a solution working with Congress and our allies, then the agreement will be terminated," US President in Washington DC, October 13, 2017.

9. "But, the Iran deal was something that I felt had to be done. And we'll see what phase two is. Phase two might be positive it might be very negative. Might be a total termination: that's a very real possibility. Some would say that's a greater possibility. But, it also could turn out to be very positive. We'll see what happens. I thought the tone of the Iranian leaders was very modified. And, I was happy to see that but I don't know if that means anything," Trump in Washington DC, October 16, 2017.

10. "But there is a chance and nobody knows what I'm going to do on the 12th -- although Mr. President, you have a pretty good idea -- but we'll see, but we'll see, also, if I do what some people expect. Whether or not it will be possible to do a new deal with solid foundations because this is a deal with decayed foundations. It's a bad deal. It's a bad structure. It's falling down, should have never ever been made. I blame Congress. I blame a lot of people for it. But it should have never been made. And we're going to see what happens on the 12th. But I will say if Iran threatens us in any way they will pay a price like few countries have ever paid," Trump on April 24, 2018, Washington DC.&nbsp;

While all eyes are set at the US President's landmark announcement on Iran nuclear deal, here's a quick look at some of the statements he made on the nuclear accord

US President Donald Trump said he would announce a decision on the future of the Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday at 2.pm (United States time) as European countries piled pressure on Washington to remain in the 2015 agreement. × Trump has threatened to withdraw from the deal, which provided Iran with relief from economic sanctions in exchange for limiting its uranium enrichment capacity unless European signatories to the accord fix what he has called its shortcomings. Trump has until May 12 to decide whether to reintroduce US sanctions on Iran, which would deal a heavy blow to the agreement. While all eyes are set at the US President's landmark announcement on one of the biggest nuclear agreements of all times, here's a quick look at some of his statements on the nuclear accord. 1. "Never ever ever in my life have I seen any transaction so incompetently negotiated as our deal with Iran -- and I mean never," Donald Trump as Republican presidential candidate on September 9, 2015, Washington DC. 2. "Because they're not stupid people (the Iranians), they're very smart people and they're great negotiators, and in two days they get a check for one hundred fifty billion dollars. OK? They don't want to take a --- see, the difference is if they did that with me, I'd say you're not getting your money back, you're in default for what you did, no -- you're in default," Donald Trump as Republican presidential candidate in Iowa, January 15, 2016. 3. "They are not living up to the spirit of the agreement, I can tell you that, and we are analyzing it very, very carefully and we'll have something to say about it in the not-too-distant future. But Iran has not lived up to the spirit of the agreement," Donald Trump as US President on April 20, 2017, Washington DC. 4. "But it was a terrible, a terrible thing for the United States to enter that deal and believe me Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, that I can tell you," Donald Trump on May 22, 2017, Jerusalem. 5. "If that deal doesn't conform to what it's supposed to conform to, there's going to be big big problems for them, that I can tell you. You're going to see that," Trump in Ohio, US on July 25, 2017. "Never ever ever in my life have I seen any transaction so incompetently negotiated as our deal with Iran -- and I mean never," Donald Trump as Republican presidential candidate on September 9, 2015 × 6. "The Iran deal was one of the worst and one-side transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it. Believe me," Donald Trump at the United Nations, September 19, 2017. 7. "Today, I am announcing our strategy along with several major steps we are taking to confront the training regimes hostile actions and to ensure that Iran never and I mean never acquires a nuclear weapon," US President in Washington DC, October 13, 2017 8. "In the event we are not able to reach a solution working with Congress and our allies, then the agreement will be terminated," US President in Washington DC, October 13, 2017. 9. "But, the Iran deal was something that I felt had to be done. And we'll see what phase two is. Phase two might be positive it might be very negative. Might be a total termination: that's a very real possibility. Some would say that's a greater possibility. But, it also could turn out to be very positive. We'll see what happens. I thought the tone of the Iranian leaders was very modified. And, I was happy to see that but I don't know if that means anything," Trump in Washington DC, October 16, 2017. 10. "But there is a chance and nobody knows what I'm going to do on the 12th -- although Mr. President, you have a pretty good idea -- but we'll see, but we'll see, also, if I do what some people expect. Whether or not it will be possible to do a new deal with solid foundations because this is a deal with decayed foundations. It's a bad deal. It's a bad structure. It's falling down, should have never ever been made. I blame Congress. I blame a lot of people for it. But it should have never been made. And we're going to see what happens on the 12th. But I will say if Iran threatens us in any way they will pay a price like few countries have ever paid," Trump on April 24, 2018, Washington DC.

A timeline of Trump's statements on Iran nuclear deal

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump will decide the future of the Iran nuclear deal today. Signed in the year 2015, between Iran and P5+1 countries (China, Russia, France, United States, Germany and the UK) in Vienna, the accord called for Iran to&nbsp;accept&nbsp;restraints on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of UN, European and US nuclear-related economic sanctions.&nbsp;

As per the agreement, Iran agreed to eliminate its stock of medium-enriched and low-enriched uranium and exercise strict control over its uranium-enrichment activities. The country also agreed to reduce the number of its gas centrifuges by about two-thirds for 13 years.&nbsp;

The deal gave the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) a regular access to all Iranian nuclear facilities.&nbsp;

Time and again, the US President has threatened to pull out of the deal. Countries like Germany and France have been trying to persuade Donald Trump not to scrap the deal. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that calling off the JCPOA "would open the Pandora’s box. There could be war".

On 30 April 2018, the United States and Israel announced that Iran violated one of the clauses stated in the 2015 agreement which required the country to disclose a past covert nuclear weapons program to the IAEA.

While all eyes are set on Trump's announcement on JCPOA today, here are four possible avenues he could take on the fate of the 2015 deal.

Trump could claim that Iran is not living up to the deal by pointing to last week’s revelation by Israel of what it said was evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme, most of which was already known to the international community and UN&nbsp;nuclear inspectors.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is in compliance with the agreement. While senior US&nbsp;officials acknowledge that Iran has complied with the letter of the accord, Trump points to Iran's ballistic missile activity and regional conduct as evidence of the deal's shortcomings.

Scenario 1: Trump re-issues sanctions waivers

Trump could waive US&nbsp;sanctions on Iran’s central bank and oil exports – as he has done every four months – while continuing talks with Germany, France and Britain on a side agreement that addresses what he sees as the deal's flaws.&nbsp;

Scenario 2: Trump does not waive sanctions

Trump could decide not to waive the US&nbsp;sanctions, under which the penalties would take effect 180 days later, and leave it to European allies – who favour preserving the deal - to decide on their own course of action. In this scenario, Iran would have to decide whether it will continue to abide by the accord's restrictions on its nuclear programme.

Scenario 3:&nbsp;Trump doesn't waive sanctions, but could reconsider

Trump could decide not to waive sanctions, but announce that he could restore the waivers before the penalties for violating the sanctions go back into effect if European allies reach a side agreement with the United States. Again, it would be Iran’s choice whether to continue abiding by the deal in the meantime.

Scenario 4: Trump doesn't waive sanctions and says Iran violating the deal 

Trump could announce that he will not waive the sanctions, and, citing the purported evidence revealed by Israel, claim that Iran is violating the deal. The United States could then use a dispute resolution mechanism laid out in the JCPOA to seek a “snap-back” of UN&nbsp;sanctions on Iran.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is in compliance with the agreement

US President Donald Trump will decide the future of the Iran nuclear deal today. Signed in the year 2015, between Iran and P5+1 countries (China, Russia, France, United States, Germany and the UK) in Vienna, the accord called for Iran to accept restraints on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of UN, European and US nuclear-related economic sanctions. As per the agreement, Iran agreed to eliminate its stock of medium-enriched and low-enriched uranium and exercise strict control over its uranium-enrichment activities. The country also agreed to reduce the number of its gas centrifuges by about two-thirds for 13 years. The deal gave the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) a regular access to all Iranian nuclear facilities. Time and again, the US President has threatened to pull out of the deal. Countries like Germany and France have been trying to persuade Donald Trump not to scrap the deal. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that calling off the JCPOA "would open the Pandora’s box. There could be war". On 30 April 2018, the United States and Israel announced that Iran violated one of the clauses stated in the 2015 agreement which required the country to disclose a past covert nuclear weapons program to the IAEA. While all eyes are set on Trump's announcement on JCPOA today, here are four possible avenues he could take on the fate of the 2015 deal. Trump could claim that Iran is not living up to the deal by pointing to last week’s revelation by Israel of what it said was evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme, most of which was already known to the international community and UN nuclear inspectors. The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is in compliance with the agreement. While senior US officials acknowledge that Iran has complied with the letter of the accord, Trump points to Iran's ballistic missile activity and regional conduct as evidence of the deal's shortcomings. Scenario 1: Trump re-issues sanctions waivers Trump could waive US sanctions on Iran’s central bank and oil exports – as he has done every four months – while continuing talks with Germany, France and Britain on a side agreement that addresses what he sees as the deal's flaws. Scenario 2: Trump does not waive sanctions Trump could decide not to waive the US sanctions, under which the penalties would take effect 180 days later, and leave it to European allies – who favour preserving the deal - to decide on their own course of action. In this scenario, Iran would have to decide whether it will continue to abide by the accord's restrictions on its nuclear programme. Scenario 3: Trump doesn't waive sanctions, but could reconsider Trump could decide not to waive sanctions, but announce that he could restore the waivers before the penalties for violating the sanctions go back into effect if European allies reach a side agreement with the United States. Again, it would be Iran’s choice whether to continue abiding by the deal in the meantime. Scenario 4: Trump doesn't waive sanctions and says Iran violating the deal Trump could announce that he will not waive the sanctions, and, citing the purported evidence revealed by Israel, claim that Iran is violating the deal. The United States could then use a dispute resolution mechanism laid out in the JCPOA to seek a “snap-back” of UN sanctions on Iran.

What could be Trump's possible options on Iran nuclear deal?

The future of the landmark Iran nuclear deal is at stake today as US President Donald Trump will announce his decision on the nuke agreement. In a tweet posted yesterday, Trump noted that he would announce a decision on the future of the Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday at 2pm (United States time).&nbsp;

While the world speculates the turn of events post-Trump's nuke declaration today, let us quickly revisit facts related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) aka the Iran nuclear deal.&nbsp;

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I will be announcing my decision on the Iran Deal tomorrow from the White House at 2:00pm.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/993562242124865536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The nuke deal

Signed in the year 2015, between Iran and P5+1 countries (China, Russia, France, United States, Germany and the UK) in Vienna, the accord, orchestrated by the Obama administration, called for Iran to accept restraints on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of UN, European and US nuclear-related economic sanctions.&nbsp;

As per the agreement, Iran agreed to eliminate its stock of medium-enriched and low-enriched uranium and exercise strict control over its uranium-enrichment activities. The country also agreed to reduce the number of its gas centrifuges by about two-thirds for 13 years.&nbsp;

The deal gave the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) a regular access to all Iranian nuclear facilities.&nbsp;

Trump's dissent&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump has spoken against the Iran nuke accord out in the public ever since his presidential campaigning days.&nbsp;

Time and again, Trump had accused Iran of not living up to the deal. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made revelations about what it called 'evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme' and urged Trump to pull out of the deal.&nbsp;

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is in compliance with the agreement. While senior US officials acknowledge that Iran has complied with the letter of the accord, Trump points to Iran's ballistic missile activity and regional conduct as evidence of the deal's shortcomings.

The US President had previously described the deal as "insane" and "ridiculous", flawed, "one-sided" and not in America's interest.&nbsp;

Also Read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/opinion-why-donald-trump-wants-to-scrap-iran-nuclear-deal-so-badly-135331">Opinion: Why Donald Trump wants to scrap Iran nuclear deal so badly</a>

What can <a href="www.wionews.com/world/trumps-options-on-iran-nuclear-deal-135293">Trump say tonight</a>?

All in all, there are a handful of possibilities of what the US President will pronounce later in the day. Trump can choose to re-issue&nbsp;sanctions waivers or decide not to waive them.&nbsp;

"Trump could decide not to waive sanctions, but announce that he could restore the waivers before the penalties for violating the sanctions go back into effect if European allies reach a side agreement with the United States," Reuters reported.&nbsp;

He could also decide not to waive the sanctions, and continue to sing the tale of Iran violating the deal.

Iran's take&nbsp;

Iran has warned that in the event of the United States exiting the deal, the White House must brace up for consequences and face "regret of historic proportions".

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/what-could-iran-do-if-trump-pulls-out-of-nuclear-deal-135382">Iran could retaliate</a> by undermining the interests of Washington and its allies in the Middle East. President Hassan Rouhani hinted on Monday that Iran could remain in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers even if the United States dropped out but Tehran would fiercely resist US pressure to limit its influence in the Middle East.

Rouhani said the Islamic Republic had been preparing for every possible scenario, including a deal without Washington - which would still include the other signatories that remain committed to it - or no deal at all.

"We are not worried about America's cruel decisions ... We are prepared for all scenarios and no change will occur in our lives next week," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state TV.

"If they want to make sure that we are not after a nuclear bomb, we have said repeatedly that we are not and we will not be," said Rouhani, who engineered the nuclear accord to ease Iran's isolation.

"But if they want to weaken Iran and limit its influence whether in the region or globally, Iran will fiercely resist."

US President Donald Trump has spoken against the Iran nuke accord out in the public ever since his presidential campaigning days in the year 2015-16.

The future of the landmark Iran nuclear deal is at stake today as US President Donald Trump will announce his decision on the nuke agreement. In a tweet posted yesterday, Trump noted that he would announce a decision on the future of the Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday at 2pm (United States time). While the world speculates the turn of events post-Trump's nuke declaration today, let us quickly revisit facts related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) aka the Iran nuclear deal. I will be announcing my decision on the Iran Deal tomorrow from the White House at 2:00pm. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 7, 2018 × The nuke deal Signed in the year 2015, between Iran and P5+1 countries (China, Russia, France, United States, Germany and the UK) in Vienna, the accord, orchestrated by the Obama administration, called for Iran to accept restraints on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of UN, European and US nuclear-related economic sanctions. As per the agreement, Iran agreed to eliminate its stock of medium-enriched and low-enriched uranium and exercise strict control over its uranium-enrichment activities. The country also agreed to reduce the number of its gas centrifuges by about two-thirds for 13 years. The deal gave the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) a regular access to all Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump's dissent US President Donald Trump has spoken against the Iran nuke accord out in the public ever since his presidential campaigning days. Time and again, Trump had accused Iran of not living up to the deal. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made revelations about what it called 'evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme' and urged Trump to pull out of the deal. The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is in compliance with the agreement. While senior US officials acknowledge that Iran has complied with the letter of the accord, Trump points to Iran's ballistic missile activity and regional conduct as evidence of the deal's shortcomings. The US President had previously described the deal as "insane" and "ridiculous", flawed, "one-sided" and not in America's interest. Also Read: Opinion: Why Donald Trump wants to scrap Iran nuclear deal so badly What can Trump say tonight? All in all, there are a handful of possibilities of what the US President will pronounce later in the day. Trump can choose to re-issue sanctions waivers or decide not to waive them. "Trump could decide not to waive sanctions, but announce that he could restore the waivers before the penalties for violating the sanctions go back into effect if European allies reach a side agreement with the United States," Reuters reported. He could also decide not to waive the sanctions, and continue to sing the tale of Iran violating the deal. Iran's take Iran has warned that in the event of the United States exiting the deal, the White House must brace up for consequences and face "regret of historic proportions". Iran could retaliate by undermining the interests of Washington and its allies in the Middle East. President Hassan Rouhani hinted on Monday that Iran could remain in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers even if the United States dropped out but Tehran would fiercely resist US pressure to limit its influence in the Middle East. Rouhani said the Islamic Republic had been preparing for every possible scenario, including a deal without Washington - which would still include the other signatories that remain committed to it - or no deal at all. "We are not worried about America's cruel decisions ... We are prepared for all scenarios and no change will occur in our lives next week," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state TV. "If they want to make sure that we are not after a nuclear bomb, we have said repeatedly that we are not and we will not be," said Rouhani, who engineered the nuclear accord to ease Iran's isolation. "But if they want to weaken Iran and limit its influence whether in the region or globally, Iran will fiercely resist."

What is Iran nuclear deal? All about 2015 JCPOA accord

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to the United States will have many agendas, some of which will certainly include achieving smoothened ties with her American counterpart and saving the JCPOA. The German foreign ministry once noted that "the biggest priority is maintaining the nuclear accord".

Merkel's US visit closely follows Macron's three-day-long engagement with Donald Trump.&nbsp;

While Merkel identifies Iran's ballistic missile program a "cause for concern" and the deal as something extremely significant, Trump rubbishes the same as "insane" and the "worst deal ever".

Speaking at a joint press conference with Trump on Tuesday in Washington, Macron said that the current Iran nuclear deal was not "sufficient" and a new pact should be worked out. Macron came away from his meetings speculating that Trump would kill the deal, but debate continues to rage.

Trump said Macron's suggestion was "a pretty good idea," yet remained unsure "whether or not it will be possible to do a new deal with solid foundations."

"Because this (the current Iran nuclear deal) (is) a deal with decayed foundations. It`s a bad deal. It`s a bad structure. It`s falling down. Should have never, ever been made," Trump noted.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wNkXrRf2VKM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In her previous interactions with Donald Trump, Merkel had raised issues related to trade policy, migration and defence spending.

This time around, the German agenda is likely to push Trump to reconsider metal tariffs besides, his 'protectionist'&nbsp;trade policy and the impulse to scrap the Iran nuclear deal.

US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis on Thursday said Washington was yet to make "any decision" on tearing up the deal but stressed that some aspects needed to be improved.&nbsp;

Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Tuesday communicated that the country would consider withdrawing from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if Washington tries to scraps the nuke deal.

Merkel is known to have enjoyed better relationships with Trump's predecessors Barack Obama and George Bush. Despite this, she has been vocal about strengthening the strategic alliance between Germany and America.

The Merkel-Trump engagement is certain to spark off disagreements, especially when Germany is definite to bring up trade war and the Iran nuke deal.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

In her previous interactions with Donald Trump, Merkel had raised issues related to trade policy, migration and defence spending.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to the United States will have many agendas, some of which will certainly include achieving smoothened ties with her American counterpart and saving the JCPOA. The German foreign ministry once noted that "the biggest priority is maintaining the nuclear accord". Merkel's US visit closely follows Macron's three-day-long engagement with Donald Trump. While Merkel identifies Iran's ballistic missile program a "cause for concern" and the deal as something extremely significant, Trump rubbishes the same as "insane" and the "worst deal ever". Speaking at a joint press conference with Trump on Tuesday in Washington, Macron said that the current Iran nuclear deal was not "sufficient" and a new pact should be worked out. Macron came away from his meetings speculating that Trump would kill the deal, but debate continues to rage. Trump said Macron's suggestion was "a pretty good idea," yet remained unsure "whether or not it will be possible to do a new deal with solid foundations." "Because this (the current Iran nuclear deal) (is) a deal with decayed foundations. It`s a bad deal. It`s a bad structure. It`s falling down. Should have never, ever been made," Trump noted. In her previous interactions with Donald Trump, Merkel had raised issues related to trade policy, migration and defence spending. This time around, the German agenda is likely to push Trump to reconsider metal tariffs besides, his 'protectionist' trade policy and the impulse to scrap the Iran nuclear deal. US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis on Thursday said Washington was yet to make "any decision" on tearing up the deal but stressed that some aspects needed to be improved. Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Tuesday communicated that the country would consider withdrawing from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if Washington tries to scraps the nuke deal. Merkel is known to have enjoyed better relationships with Trump's predecessors Barack Obama and George Bush. Despite this, she has been vocal about strengthening the strategic alliance between Germany and America. The Merkel-Trump engagement is certain to spark off disagreements, especially when Germany is definite to bring up trade war and the Iran nuke deal.

Merkel's agenda in Washington, 'saving' Iran nuke deal and stalling trade wars

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif will be discussing the Iran nuclear deal on Saturday. The meeting comes in the wake of the US and French threat to scrap the deal.

The meeting comes on the sidelines of an extraordinary trilateral meeting of Russian, Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers on April 28 in Moscow. The trilateral talks will primarily focus on Syria.

Lavrov and Zarif will exchange views on current international and regional issues. The situation around the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear programme&nbspwill also be on the agenda.

Russia has recently expressed concerns over America's and France's stance on the Iran nuclear deal JCPOA.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova noted the Iran nuke deal to be balanced in its mechanism that takes into account the interests of all its participants. She further added that the destruction of this fragile balance of interests can lead to serious consequences for international security.&nbsp

Zakharova reiterated Russia's commitment toward fulfiling its obligations under the JCPOA "as long as other participants remain committed to it".

JCPOA was signed in Vienna by Iran and six other countries including Russia, the US, Britain, China, France and Germany on July 14, 2015. The deal was signed to solve the long-standing problem of Iran's nuclear programme.

US President Donald Trump recently threatened to pull out of the JCPOA. His decision is likely to be made public on May 12.&nbsp

Russia has recently expressed concerns over America's and France's stance on the Iran nuclear deal JCPOA

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif will be discussing the Iran nuclear deal on Saturday. The meeting comes in the wake of the US and French threat to scrap the deal. The meeting comes on the sidelines of an extraordinary trilateral meeting of Russian, Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers on April 28 in Moscow. The trilateral talks will primarily focus on Syria. Lavrov and Zarif will exchange views on current international and regional issues. The situation around the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear programme&nbspwill also be on the agenda. Russia has recently expressed concerns over America's and France's stance on the Iran nuclear deal JCPOA. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova noted the Iran nuke deal to be balanced in its mechanism that takes into account the interests of all its participants. She further added that the destruction of this fragile balance of interests can lead to serious consequences for international security. Zakharova reiterated Russia's commitment toward fulfiling its obligations under the JCPOA "as long as other participants remain committed to it". JCPOA was signed in Vienna by Iran and six other countries including Russia, the US, Britain, China, France and Germany on July 14, 2015. The deal was signed to solve the long-standing problem of Iran's nuclear programme. US President Donald Trump recently threatened to pull out of the JCPOA. His decision is likely to be made public on May 12.

Russian, Iranian diplomats to discuss Iran nuclear deal this Saturday

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized pomp and ceremony on Monday as Macron began a state visit to Washington likely to be dominated by differences with the United States over trade and the nuclear accord with Iran.

As Macron headed to the United States, the Iranian government urged European leaders to convince Trump not to tear up the 2015 deal between Tehran and six world powers.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/it-is-either-all-or-nothing-says-iran-foreign-minister-over-nuclear-deal--132298">Either all or </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/it-is-either-all-or-nothing-says-iran-foreign-minister-over-nuclear-deal--132298">nothing,</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/it-is-either-all-or-nothing-says-iran-foreign-minister-over-nuclear-deal--132298"> says Iran foreign minister on&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/it-is-either-all-or-nothing-says-iran-foreign-minister-over-nuclear-deal--132298">nuclear</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/it-is-either-all-or-nothing-says-iran-foreign-minister-over-nuclear-deal--132298"> deal</a>

The French president said on Sunday there was no "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/frances-president-says-he-has-no-plan-b-for-iran-nuclear-deal-132121">Plan B</a>" for keeping a lid on Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

He is on something of a rescue mission for what is formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump has said he would scrap unless European allies fix by mid-May what he calls "terrible flaws."

"This visit is very important in our current context, with so many uncertainties, troubles and at times threats," Macron said in French remarks as he arrived in Washington.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on European leaders to support the agreement.

"It is either all or nothing. European leaders should encourage Trump not just to stay in the nuclear deal, but more important to begin implementing his part of the bargain in good faith," Zarif wrote on Twitter.

The deal reached between six powers - all of whom but Germany are nuclear-armed - and Tehran put curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Minutes after Macron touched down in the United States, the White House said it had no announcements on the Iran deal.

"The president has been extremely clear that he thinks it's a bad deal. That certainly has not changed," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

Macron said on "Fox News Sunday" it would be better to protect the deal instead of getting rid of it. "Is this agreement perfect and this JCPOA a perfect thing for our relationship with Iran? No. But for nuclear, what do you have as a better option? I don't see it," he said.

CHARM OFFENSIVE

Macron's visit is the first time Trump has hosted a state visit since he took power in January 2017. While the French leader has tried to develop a close relationship with Trump since he took office last May, he has so far seen few tangible results on issues from Iran to climate politics.

Macron and his wife, Brigitte, shortly after their arrival at the Blair House residence, took quickly to the streets of Washington, walking past the White House complex to the Lincoln Memorial and greeting tourists.

Macron brought with him an oak tree sapling for planting on the South Lawn of the White House. The tree came from the Belleau Woods, site of a World War One battle in 1918 where 9,000 Americans died. Trump and Macron shovelled dirt on the freshly planted tree as the cameras clicked. "France is a very special country," said Trump. "It's a great honour."

Trump and his wife, Melania, and the Macrons then flew aboard Trump's Marine One helicopter to dine at Mount Vernon, the Virginia home of George Washington, the first U.S. president and Revolutionary War commander whose alliance with France was critical to victory over the British.

The Trumps and Macrons spent about two hours at Mount Vernon. "We had a great dinner," President Trump told reporters as they boarded the helicopter for the return trip to the White House.

Working meetings will be held at the White House on Tuesday before Macron addresses the U.S. Congress the following day, the anniversary of the day French General Charles de Gaulle addressed a joint session of Congress in 1960.

Trump and Macron began their friendship a year ago in Belgium with a jaw-clenching handshake. While some other European leaders have kept a distance from Trump, Macron has worked hard to remain close to the U.S. president. The two leaders speak frequently by phone.

TRADE TALKS

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme was for peaceful purposes.

Macron also wants to persuade Trump to exempt European nations from metal tariffs that are part of the U.S. president's plan to reduce chronic trade deficits with countries around the world, chiefly China.

His visit comes at a time of mounting alarm in Europe over the effect that U.S. sanctions on Russia will have on their own manufacturing industries.

French officials said Paris and other European governments were coordinating efforts to persuade Trump to ease sanctions on Russia, including measures against Russian aluminium producers.

"There are concerns raised by the extraterritoriality effects of the new sets of sanctions," a French finance ministry source said. "Europeans ... have jointly warned the U.S. administration about the economic impact and consequences and the need to find solutions."

The official said France, Germany, Italy and Ireland were working together on the matter. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks with Trump in Washington later in the week.

Macron and Trump are also due to discuss Syria less than two weeks after the United States, France and Britain launched air strikes there in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens.

Macron said last week he believed he had persuaded Trump to keep U.S. troops in Syria, though Trump has been insistent on bringing them home.

As Macron headed to the United States, the Iranian government urged European leaders to convince Trump not to tear up the 2015 deal between Tehran and six world powers

US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized pomp and ceremony on Monday as Macron began a state visit to Washington likely to be dominated by differences with the United States over trade and the nuclear accord with Iran. As Macron headed to the United States, the Iranian government urged European leaders to convince Trump not to tear up the 2015 deal between Tehran and six world powers. Also read: Either all or nothing, says Iran foreign minister on nuclear deal The French president said on Sunday there was no "Plan B" for keeping a lid on Tehran's nuclear ambitions. He is on something of a rescue mission for what is formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump has said he would scrap unless European allies fix by mid-May what he calls "terrible flaws." "This visit is very important in our current context, with so many uncertainties, troubles and at times threats," Macron said in French remarks as he arrived in Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on European leaders to support the agreement. "It is either all or nothing. European leaders should encourage Trump not just to stay in the nuclear deal, but more important to begin implementing his part of the bargain in good faith," Zarif wrote on Twitter. The deal reached between six powers - all of whom but Germany are nuclear-armed - and Tehran put curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Minutes after Macron touched down in the United States, the White House said it had no announcements on the Iran deal. "The president has been extremely clear that he thinks it's a bad deal. That certainly has not changed," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. Macron said on "Fox News Sunday" it would be better to protect the deal instead of getting rid of it. "Is this agreement perfect and this JCPOA a perfect thing for our relationship with Iran? No. But for nuclear, what do you have as a better option? I don't see it," he said. CHARM OFFENSIVE Macron's visit is the first time Trump has hosted a state visit since he took power in January 2017. While the French leader has tried to develop a close relationship with Trump since he took office last May, he has so far seen few tangible results on issues from Iran to climate politics. Macron and his wife, Brigitte, shortly after their arrival at the Blair House residence, took quickly to the streets of Washington, walking past the White House complex to the Lincoln Memorial and greeting tourists. Macron brought with him an oak tree sapling for planting on the South Lawn of the White House. The tree came from the Belleau Woods, site of a World War One battle in 1918 where 9,000 Americans died. Trump and Macron shovelled dirt on the freshly planted tree as the cameras clicked. "France is a very special country," said Trump. "It's a great honour." Trump and his wife, Melania, and the Macrons then flew aboard Trump's Marine One helicopter to dine at Mount Vernon, the Virginia home of George Washington, the first U.S. president and Revolutionary War commander whose alliance with France was critical to victory over the British. The Trumps and Macrons spent about two hours at Mount Vernon. "We had a great dinner," President Trump told reporters as they boarded the helicopter for the return trip to the White House. Working meetings will be held at the White House on Tuesday before Macron addresses the U.S. Congress the following day, the anniversary of the day French General Charles de Gaulle addressed a joint session of Congress in 1960. Trump and Macron began their friendship a year ago in Belgium with a jaw-clenching handshake. While some other European leaders have kept a distance from Trump, Macron has worked hard to remain close to the U.S. president. The two leaders speak frequently by phone. TRADE TALKS Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme was for peaceful purposes. Macron also wants to persuade Trump to exempt European nations from metal tariffs that are part of the U.S. president's plan to reduce chronic trade deficits with countries around the world, chiefly China. His visit comes at a time of mounting alarm in Europe over the effect that U.S. sanctions on Russia will have on their own manufacturing industries. French officials said Paris and other European governments were coordinating efforts to persuade Trump to ease sanctions on Russia, including measures against Russian aluminium producers. "There are concerns raised by the extraterritoriality effects of the new sets of sanctions," a French finance ministry source said. "Europeans ... have jointly warned the U.S. administration about the economic impact and consequences and the need to find solutions." The official said France, Germany, Italy and Ireland were working together on the matter. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks with Trump in Washington later in the week. Macron and Trump are also due to discuss Syria less than two weeks after the United States, France and Britain launched air strikes there in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens. Macron said last week he believed he had persuaded Trump to keep U.S. troops in Syria, though Trump has been insistent on bringing them home.

France's Macron visits Trump as Iran nuclear deal hangs in balance

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