President Donald Trump on Tuesday, 8 May, pulled the United States out of an international nuclear deal with Iran, raising the risk of conflict in the Middle East, upsetting European allies and casting uncertainty over global oil supplies.
In an address from the White House, Trump said that he would reimpose US economic sanctions on Iran to undermine “a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made."
Soon after the announcement, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hit back at Trump, holding him responsible for undermining an international treaty. Rouhani also asserted that if there is cooperation from other members, then Iran will remain a part of the deal, reported Reuters.
I have ordered the foreign ministry to negotiate with the European countries, China and Russia in coming weeks. If at the end of this short period we conclude that we can fully benefit from the JCPOA with the cooperation of all countries, the deal would remain.Hassan Rouhani, Iranian President, in a television speech
Trump’s decision also drew the ire of other member nations who are a part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is the full name for the nuclear deal struck in 2015 between Iran, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France – and Germany.
Reactions from Member Nations
France, Germany and UK released a joint statement regretting the decision and urging the US not to take steps to make life harder for other countries who are still a part of the deal. They also emphasised that their nations will continue with their commitment to the JCPoA.
“We urge the US to ensure that the structures of the JCPoA can remain intact, and to avoid taking action which obstructs its full implementation by all other parties to the deal,” the joint statement read.
According to a report in Reuters, Russia’s foreign ministry has also expressed its “disappointment” over Trump’s decision.
“There are no – and can be no – grounds for breaking the joint comprehensive action plan (JCPOA). The plan showed its full efficiency,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The United States is undermining international trust in the International Atomic Energy Agency, ” the statement added.
China has also reiterated the stand of other member nations, stating that all parties involved should stick to the deal and use dialogue and deal to resolve negotiations, reported Reuters.
Former US President Obama Calls Pull-Out a “Serious Mistake”
Former US President Barack Obama also raised concerns and called the announcement “misguided”. He said pulling out of the Iran deal was a “serious mistake” and “without the JCPOA the United States could eventually be left with a losing choice between a nuclear-armed Iran or another war in the Middle East,” Obama added.
Raising concerns over US President’s decision to pull out of the Iran deal, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the the remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal to abide by their commitments.
Middle East Stands in Support of Trump
However, Middle Eastern countries like the UAE and Israel supported Donald trump’s decision.
Israel, a staunch enemy of Iran, hailed Donald Trump’s decision, calling it a “bold” move.
Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement said that the deal wasn’t working towards reducing Iran’s aggression, but rather, had increased it.
The United Arab Emirates too has urged the international community "to respond positively to President Trump's position to rid the Middle East of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction", reported Reuters.
(With inputs from Reuters.)
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