Britain remains committed to Iran nuclear deal despite US decision to pull out
Britain joined France and Germany in recommitting to the Iran nuclear deal after Donald Trump ignored their pleas and pulled the United States out of the accord.
The US president said he would impose the "highest level" of economic sanctions on Iran as he claimed the state was on the brink of acquiring nuclear weapons.
Tehran immediately responded by warning it would begin enriching more uranium than ever if negotiations with other countries in the pact failed.
President Hassan Rouhani said he would send foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to visit each of the remaining countries involved in the deal.
Prime Minister @Theresa_May has made a joint statement with President Macron and Chancellor Merkel on the Iran nuclear deal: https://t.co/gpLevdyu65
-- UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) May 8, 2018
Former president Barack Obama said the decision was a "serious mistake" that could leave the US facing "a losing choice between a nuclear-armed Iran or another war in the Middle East".
In a joint statement, Theresa May, German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron said the decision was a matter of "regret and concern".
But Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Mr Trump for the "bold" move and described the agreement as a "recipe for disaster" that had brought the prospect of war closer.
.@POTUS Trump to the long-suffering people of #Iran: The people of America stand with you. The future of Iran belongs to its people. They deserve a nation that does justice to their dreams. #JCPOApic.twitter.com/MMeIpZEG8p
-- Department of State (@StateDept) May 8, 2018
Britain, France and Germany had made strenuous attempts to persuade the US president to preserve the deal.
On Monday, Boris Johnson made a diplomatic dash to Washington in a last-ditch push to win over the president. The visit came soon after Mrs Merkel and Mr Macron made direct appeals to Mr Trump in face-to-face talks.
But the diplomatic efforts failed to secure even a delay in the announcement.
Israel fully supports @realDonaldTrump's bold decision today to reject the disastrous nuclear deal with the terrorist regime in Tehran. The deal didn't push war further away; it actually brought it closer. The deal didn't reduce Iran's aggression; it dramatically increased it. pic.twitter.com/sxJHocLqu7
-- Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) May 8, 2018
Speaking in the White House, Mr Trump said the agreement was "disastrous" and a "great embarrassment" to him.
"The Iran deal is defective at its core," he said. "If we do nothing, we know exactly what will happen.
"In just a short period of time, the world's leading state sponsor of terror will be on the cusp of acquiring the world's most dangerous weapon.
"Therefore, I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal."
Mr Trump said the move was a sign that the US "no longer makes empty threats".
"When I make promises, I keep them," he said.
In a joint statement, Mrs May, Mrs Merkel and Mr Macron said they remained committed to the deal.
Deeply regret US decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. UK remains strongly committed to the JCPoA, and will work with E3 partners and the other parties to the deal to maintain it. Await more detail on US plan.
-- Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) May 8, 2018
They said: "It is with regret and concern that we, the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, take note of President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States of America from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
"Together, we emphasise our continuing commitment to the JCPOA. This agreement remains important for our shared security."
They added: "We encourage Iran to show restraint in response to the decision by the US; Iran must continue to meet its own obligations under the deal, co-operating fully and in a timely manner with IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency) inspection requirements."
France, Germany, and the UK regret the U.S. decision to leave the JCPOA. The nuclear non-proliferation regime is at stake.
-- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 8, 2018
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was signed by the US, China, Russia, Germany, France and Britain with Iran in 2015.
Under its terms, Iran is committed to a peaceful nuclear energy programme.
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