US ambassador urges UK to back Trump on Iran nuke deal

LONDON — The US ambassador in London has urged Britain to back US President Donald Trump in pulling out of the Iran nuclear agreement, saying a united front is the best way to persuade Tehran to change its course.

Ambassador Robert Wood Johnson wrote in the Sunday Telegraph that “we are asking global Britain to use its considerable diplomatic power and influence and join us as we lead a concerted global effort towards a genuinely comprehensive agreement.”

Trump pulled out of the deal in May and last week began reinstating economic sanctions against Iran that were eased in exchange for concessions on Iran’s nuclear program.

The UK, France, Russia, China, Germany and the European Union, which also signed the deal, have criticized Trump’s decision and continue to back the agreement with Iran.

Iran has said it will restart aspects of the uranium enrichment program if the nuclear deal unravels.

US sanctions that had been eased by the Obama administration under the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, took effect again Tuesday. Renewed sanctions targeting Iran’s oil industry and banking sector will resume November 4.

Trump declared that the landmark 2015 agreement was “horrible,” saying it did nothing to stop Iran developing missiles or destabilizing the Middle East and Gulf regions. The Europeans argue that it was only ever meant to curb the development of nuclear weapons.

The stiff economic sanctions ratchet up pressure on the Islamic Republic despite statements of deep dismay from European allies. Trump warned that those who don’t wind down their economic ties to Iran “risk severe consequences.”

Iran accused the US of reneging on the agreement and of causing recent Iranian economic unrest. European allies said they “deeply regret” the US action.

European companies face possible US sanctions if they continue to trade with Iran.

Last week the European Union’s executive Commission introduced a “blocking statute” to protect European businesses from the impact of the sanctions. The mechanism stops European companies from complying with the US sanctions unless they have authorization from the Commission.

The statute also blocks the effects of US court actions in Europe and allows European firms to recover damages arising from the sanctions from anyone who causes them.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.