No US Reimposition of JCPOA Related Sanctions on Iran Imminent?

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

According to the NYT, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, AP News, Bloomberg and other media, Trump intends stopping short of reimposing US sanctions relating to the Iran JCPOA nuclear deal in a Friday announcement.

Once again, he's expected to decertify the deal without pulling out, despite full Iranian compliance with its provisions, according to the IAEA nuclear watchdog.

He asked Congress and other P5+1 countries to revise the deal. Otherwise he'll abandon it, last October saying:

"In the event we are not able to reach a solution working with Congress and our allies, then the agreement will be terminated. It is under continuous review, and our participation can be canceled by me, as president, at any time."

It's unclear what Republicans and undemocatic Dems intend. So far, they've proposed nothing publicly.

According to an unnamed insider source, "(t)here are no real negotiations going on with the Democrats, but everyone has an incentive to tell the president there is enough progress to justify continuing to waive (JCPOA related) sanctions."

German diplomat Angela Kane explained "(i)f there were to be a withdrawal from the deal by the US side then you would have the very uncomfortable situation for the Europeans, who would basically side with Russia and China…That would be a very difficult thing to stomach for the Europeans."

Now retired lead UK JCPOA negotiator Simon Gass said "(w)e place particular importance on sustainment of this agreement. We do not do so in a semi-apologetic way. We do this because we regard this as a very strong, very successful agreement."

All P5+1 countries except America strongly support the deal. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel expressed strong backing, saying:

"We want to protect the JCPOA against every possible undermining decision whatever that may come. It would send a very dangerous signal to the rest of the world if the only agreement that prevents the proliferation of nuclear weapons was negatively affected."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian added: "There is no indication today that could call into doubt Iranian respect of the agreement."

UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said no one "produced a better alternative."

Moscow and Beijing of course strongly support the JCPOA, rejecting efforts by Washington to compromise or abandon it.

Ahead of Trump's upcoming announcement, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said "I am expecting new sanctions on Iran," adding:

"We continue to look at them. We've rolled them out, and I think you can expect there will be more sanctions coming."

Sanctions imposed without Security Council authorization are illegal. Washington uses pressure, bullying, intimidation and bribery to force other countries to go along with its hostile agenda.

Whatever Trump announces, longstanding US plans call for toppling Iran's government, replacing the Islamic Republic with fascist tyranny - something Iranians won't tolerate.

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