UK PM Johnson believes 'Trump deal' could replace Iran nuclear agreement

By
AFP
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US President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the United Nations General Assembly. Photo: AP/Evan Vucci

LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday a "Trump deal", if reached, could replace the Iran nuclear framework, which was agreed to stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

"If we are going to get rid of it then we need a replacement," Johnson said of the 2015 nuclear deal that the United Kingdom and other European powers have been trying to salvage since President Donald Trump pulled the United States out in 2018.

Britain, France, and Germany had on Tuesday announced they were launching a dispute mechanism under the deal — known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — because Iran was not meeting its commitments.

Read more: Three European nations trigger dispute mechanism in 2015 Iran nuclear deal

Johnson said a "Trump deal" would be "a great way forward" but did not specify the details of the proposal. His idea stands at odds with the European nations' Tuesday statement that expressed "determination to work with all participants to preserve" the deal.

"From the American perspective it's a flawed agreement, it expires, plus it was negotiated by (former) President Obama," Johnson said.

"President Trump is a great deal-maker — by his own account and many others. Let's work together to replace the JCPOA and get the Trump deal instead."

Read more: Iran says to forego 'limit' on nuclear enrichment centrifuges

Tehran has wound down its compliance since the US withdrawal and, last week, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the non-compliance had become "so acute" that the European powers were looking at taking action.

He said London wished to see Iran "come back to full compliance" and said triggering the dispute resolution mechanism was one option. It could ultimately lead to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reimposing sanctions on Iran.