During the evening of Friday 12 January, the European External Action Service (EEAS) spokesperson stated in a press release that the EU takes note of the statement of US President Donald Trump about the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).
While Trump agreed on 12 January to prolong the suspension of economic sanctions against Iran as part of the nuclear deal, he announced that if any new coercive measure targeting Tehran was adopted within 120 days, Washington would leave the deal. He invited the key European countries to join the US to repair the big flaws in the deal, to counter Iranian aggression and to support the Iranian people.
The EEAS spokesperson remained vague about European intentions, simply saying that "as a first step" the EU would coordinate with the three European countries that took part in the negotiation – France, Germany and the UK – and with the other EU member states, "to jointly assess the statement and its implications". In her blog on 13 January, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini described as positive the fact that Trump had confirmed the US would respect its commitments by prolonging the derogation relating to the nuclear sanctions provided for by the deal. She did not, however, react regarding the US requests.
"We continue to want the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA", she added.
Speaking to press on Monday 15 January, EEAS spokesperson Catherine Ray refused to give further detail. On Thursday 11 January, Mogherini and the British, French and German foreign ministers had reiterated their attachment to the deal (see EUROPE 11937). Mogherini has repeatedly said that the deal is not renegotiable (see EUROPE 11900).
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while saying that it was "difficult to say" what the position of the Europeans will be, said on January 15 that he believed the latter were beginning to seek compromises, "which would be a slippery slope in a very dangerous direction".
Iran meanwhile rejects any change to the deal.
The situation in Iran is expected to appear on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 January. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)