EU will not follow US to withdraw from JCPOA, says British expert

London, Mar 25, IRNA - Citing Europeans' intention to keep their relationship with Iran, Professor George Joffé claims that the US is isolated in withdrawing from JCPOA. Speaking with IRNA, Joffé says that the Europeans believe Iran is committed to its obligations under the JCPOA and want to maintain it. On the other hand he says they wish to accommodate America’s concern by improving sanctions against Iran. However if the Americans wish to go further the Europeans are going to reject it . “The deal is coming out for consideration for further waiver. I suspect now the consequence of the decision to replace the secretary of state will mean that there is a greater possibility now that the US will not maintain the waivers.” The interesting point as he put it is that the US did not agree with the waiver last time but did not withdraw from the JCPOA waiting to see what the Europeans will do to improve the deal. Joffé continued by saying that if the EU and US come to an agreement over JCPOA, Europe will support such a policy, however if the Americans insist on further hostile measures, Europeans will not follow. Asked why Donald Trump is hostile towards the JCPOA, Joffé says under US assumption Iran will be able to start nuclear enrichment towards building atomic weapon after the deal comes to end. He added that the US is also concerned about Iran’s missile activities which as he put it, both objections are not well based. Joffé says that there are already measures in the JCPOA which will limits Iran’s ability to create nuclear bomb after the deal comes to an end, adding that missile activities were never part of the deal. However he says such policies reflect those of the right wing in America that always objected to the deal, and that Donald Trump dislike policies introduced by Obama and try to reverse them if he possibly can. 1378/IRNA