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IRAN-NUCLEAR-DIPLOMACY, CHRONO
Iran nuclear deal: developments since US walkout
PARIS, Aug 6, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – With US sanctions back in force Tuesday,
here is a look-back over developments in the 90 days since President Donald
Trump withdrew from a hard-won 2015 accord on Iran’s nuclear programme:
– Washington walks away –
Trump pulls the US out of the landmark nuclear pact between world powers
and Iran on May 8, reinstating Washington’s sanctions on Iran and companies
with ties to the Islamic republic.
“The Iran deal is defective at its core,” he says.
Washington warns other countries to end trade and investment in Iran and
stop buying its oil or face punitive measures, a move which also threatens
foreign companies doing deals with Iran.
Tehran’s regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Israel applaud the decision.
But other parties to the deal — Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China
— say Iran has abided by its commitment and that they are determined to save
the agreement and ensure continued economic benefits for Iran.
– Threats to resume enrichment –
On May 12, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran is preparing to
resume “industrial-scale” uranium enrichment, limited under the accord,
unless Europe provides solid guarantees to maintain trade ties reinstated
under the deal.
Washington warns on May 21 that Iran will be hit with the “strongest
sanctions in history” unless it capitulates to a series of US demands aimed
at curbing its missile programme and “malign regional behaviour”.
On May 30, the United States places several Iranian state groups on its
sanctions blacklist, accusing them of serious human rights abuses and
censorship.
On June 4, Iran notifies the International Atomic Energy Agency of the
launch of a plan to increase its uranium enrichment capacity.
– Five powers stand by deal –
A top US official says on July 2 that Washington is determined to force
Iran to change behaviour by cutting its oil exports to zero, confident the
world has enough spare oil capacity to cope.
President Hassan Rouhani responds on July 3, saying the United States can
never prevent Iran from exporting its oil.
On July 6, Tehran’s five remaining partners vow in Vienna to back “the
continuation of Iran’s export of oil and gas”.
On July 16. EU countries reject the US demand that they economically
isolate Iran and move to give European firms legal cover to operate in Iran.
A day later the Trump administration rejects calls by Brussels for an
exemption from sanctions.
A top Iranian official says Tehran is ready to boost its uranium enrichment
to higher levels if talks fail with Europe on salvaging the nuclear deal.
Iran calls on the UN’s top court, the International Court of Justice, to
order the United States to immediately lift sanctions, claiming they are
causing “irreparable prejudice”.
– War of words –
On July 22, Rouhani tells the US it should not “play with the lion’s tail”
and warns any conflict with Iran would be the “mother of all wars”.
Trump responds with an all-caps Twitter tirade warning against making
threats to the United States, “OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF
WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE”.
On July 30, however, Trump says he is ready to meet with Iranian leaders
“anytime they want” and promises “no preconditions”.
“Threats, sanctions & PR stunts won’t work,” Iran’s foreign minister says
on Twitter. “America is not trustworthy,” Iran’s interior minister says.
– Mounting tensions –
On August 3, protesters attack a religious school in a province near
Tehran, as part of sporadic protests simmering ahead of the reimposition of
US sanctions on August 7.
The conservative Fars news agency acknowledges protests have taken place in
“five or six cities” since July 31 over water shortages, rising prices and
joblessness, with “about 1,000 or 2,000 people” taking part.
BSS/AFP/IJ/1306 hrs