Experts: Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from nuclear deal with Iran devoid of logic

May 25, 2018 - PRLog -- Tehran intends to seek from the European states clear guarantees of compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) after Washington's decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal, said Ali Akbar Velayati, Iran Supreme Leader's Senior Adviser for international affairs, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.

"There should be clear European guarantees in order not to turn the deal, which limits Tehran's nuclear developments in exchange for lifting sanctions of the United Nations Security Council and unilateral restrictions introduced by the United States and the European Union, into a unilateral agreement," he said.

"Certain EU members announce their commitment to the nuclear deal and prospects of enhancing economic cooperation with Iran, while others [European countries] say that there is no need to stand against the US. […] This contraction cannot but arouse suspicion," Ali Akbar Velayati added.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has passed the first package of measures to shield EU firms in Iran from Washington sanctions, activating the "blocking statute." It will forbid EU companies from complying with the extraterritorial effects of the American sanctions, allow companies to recover damages arising from such sanctions from the person causing them, and nullify any foreign court judgments based on US sanctions.

In addition, the European Commission intends to remove obstacles for the European Investment Bank (EIB) to decide under the EU budget guarantee to finance activities outside the European Union, in Iran, and continue and strengthen the ongoing sectoral cooperation with Iran.

Analyzing the current situation, Greg Thielmann, Board Member of the Arms Control Association and former office director in the State Department's intelligence bureau, INR, called Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal "one of the worst US foreign policy blunders in recent decades."

Source: https://penzanews.ru/en/analysis/65401-2018