News / Politics

UK stresses 'firm' support for Iran nuclear deal

Thursday, 30 November 2017 2:53 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 30 November 2017 3:33 PM ]

British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at a press conference in Amman, Jordan, November 30, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

British Prime Minister Theresa May has affirmed support for the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers in the face of the US administration's harsh rhetoric and threats to "terminate" it.

"We must stand firm in our support for the ... deal," she told reporters in the Jordanian capital Amman on Thursday on the last leg of her Middle East tour that had already taken her to Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

"This deal was the culmination of 13 years of diplomacy and a major step towards ensuring that Iran's nuclear program is not diverted for military purposes," May added in a clear reference to Iran's nuclear deal with the P5+1 countries, which is also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

May met with Jordan's King Abdullah II and was set to hold talks with her Jordanian counterpart Hani al-Mulki later on Thursday.

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the US, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany signed the nuclear deal in July 2015 and started implementing it in January 2016.

Under the deal, Iran undertook to apply certain limits to its nuclear program in exchange for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran.

Eight IAEA reports have so far confirmed Iran’s full commitment to its side of the bargain.

In October, however, US President Donald Trump refused to formally certify that the Islamic Republic was complying with the JCPOA, warning that he might ultimately “terminate” it.

Trump further said he was directing his administration “to work closely with Congress and our allies to address the deal’s many serious flaws.”

The US Congress has until mid-December to decide whether to re-impose the economic sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under the JCPOA.

Russia, EU worried about JCPOA's fate

Separately on Thursday, Russia' envoy to the European Union stressed that Brussels, like Moscow, is concerned about the future of the JCPOA, citing Washington's bellicose stance on Iran.

"There are international issues on which our (Russia-EU) cooperation cannot be halted," Vladimir Chizhov said. "For example, the Iranian nuclear deal. The EU, like Russia, is alarmed by Washington’s attempts to ditch it and voices concerns over the fate of this deal."

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