Iran poised to breach nuclear deal
The Iranian government has threatened to breach key points of the nuclear agreement. A spokesman announced that the country will exceed the uranium stockpile limit stipulated in the deal by the end of June. With this step Iran is increasing the pressure on other countries to take steps to preserve the nuclear deal. Since its unilateral withdrawal from the agreement in May 2018 the US has imposed new sanctions on Iran. How can a further escalation be avoided?
Things are getting dangerous
A new conflict is looming in the region, warns Middle East expert Bernardo Valli in La Repubblica:
“Tehran's ten-day ultimatum is a clear answer to Trump's U-turn. But it is also directed at the Europeans who are called on to take measures to convince the US to lift the sanctions. Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, recently adopted a harsher tone when he warned the United States that their security in the region would no longer be guaranteed if they waged an 'economic war' against the Islamic Republic. And he ruled out any dialogue with the US until the US is prepared to make concessions and lift the sanctions.”
Europe must become stronger
The Iran conflict shows once again how little power the EU has on the world stage, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung comments:
“Just what should the EU and its member states do to go from being other powers' pawns to being self-confident players in their own right? ... The EU and its members must do all they can to make the European Economic Area innovative, dynamic and competitive. That includes having a strong euro. Of course, in order to become a 'world power' the strengthening of its military capabilities will be essential. ... The Europeans must go from being forced to react to taking action independently. ... Unfortunately that's not easy. However, the dominant players on the world stage take no account of the Europeans' feelings or squabbles - they use them to their own advantage. And that must stop.”
Trump started this
Politiken puts most of the blame for the escalation on the US president:
“The US has increased the pressure on the hierocracy and threatened to limit access to the US market for other countries and companies if they do business with Iran. Europe hasn't been able to do anything about this and now the ayatollah regime has lost its patience. That was unwise, and the crisis now threatens to get out of control. But it's important to remember that it was the US that breached the agreement first. So Trump is to blame for the rapidly increasing political, economic and military tensions.”
New deal could defuse the conflict
Iran and the US should negotiate a better nuclear deal, advises former US diplomat Richard Haass in the Irish Examiner:
“Iran has so far rejected talks, but that might change if the US indicated that a degree of sanctions relief would be on the table. The time has come for such a diplomatic overture. Think of it as JCPOA 2.0. The accord's provisions restraining Iran's nuclear activities would be extended well into the future. A revised agreement would also restrain Iran's ballistic missile program. In return, Iran would receive relief from the sanctions that have been introduced. The US could also formalise Trump's statement that he seeks policy change, not regime change.”