Britain tells Trump: spell out how you will deal with Iran now

 

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arrives in Downing Street, in London, May 8, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain challenged the United States on Wednesday to spell out its vision of a new negotiated settlement with Iran after President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 international nuclear deal.

 

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Britain had no intention of walking away from the deal, known as the JCPOA. He also said Britain would do its utmost to protect UK commercial interests in Iran.

 

"Now that the Trump administration has left the JCPOA, the responsibility falls on them to describe how they in Washington will build a new negotiated solution to our shared concerns," he told parliament.

 

"President Trump said himself last night that he is committed to finding a new solution and we should hold him to his word."

 

Johnson said he had no problem with Trump's goal for a lasting solution to Iran's nuclear threat and other Iranian policies seen as malign by London and Washington, but added: "The question is: how does the U.S. propose to achieve it?"

 

Asked about the potential impact of new U.S. economic sanctions against Iran on British firms seeking to do business in the country, Johnson did not go into specifics but indicated the government would be supportive of companies.

 

"We will do our utmost to protect UK commercial interests," he said.

 

Asked what suggestions the British government would be making to the U.S. administration about the way ahead in dealing with Iran, Johnson talked about the idea of a follow-on agreement that would preserve the central pillars of the JCPOA while addressing other issues beyond the nuclear programme.

 

"The central idea is that around the core of the JCPOA you build a super-structure, a follow-on agreement that would address the problems of the sunset clauses, address the issue of the ICBMs (inter-continental ballistic missiles) and satisfy the president's anxieties," he said.

 

Throughout his statement, Johnson repeatedly said the JCPOA had delivered on the core goal of preventing Iran from moving towards acquiring a nuclear bomb. He also said the central bargain of the deal, better economic prospects for Iran in return for de-nuclearisation, remained valid.

 

"We did our utmost to prevent this outcome. From the moment that President Trump's administration took office, we made the case for keeping the JCPOA at every level," he said.

 

"The U.S. decision makes no difference to the British assessment that the constraints imposed on Iran's nuclear ambitions by the JCPOA remain vital for our national security and the stability of the Middle East.

 

"For as long as Iran abides by the agreement ... then Britain will remain a party to the JCPOA," he added. "Britain has no intention of walking away."

 

(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-10

You mean there was suppose to be a plan?   

He said he would do this 2 years ago as a candidate so has had plenty of time to formulate an alternative plan....but he hasn't has he. He is a spoilt, spiteful, silly little boy ""getting his own back" on Obama in the biggest playground there is.

 

The decision may or may not have been correct but it is the reason why he did it that is so abhorrent. 

He left the door open for re-working the bad deal and the even worse

agreement whereby in 7 years Iran will be able to resume enriching

uranium again,

Iran understand and respect powerful people, leaders whom they can't

predict what they will do, sort of madma, just as the Iranians are as Iran

and the US have a long history of animosities and hard feelings to each

other, so no love lost there....

25 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Iran and the US have a long history of animosities and hard feelings to each

other,

 

Only if you consider 1953 to be such a long time ago. Maybe being instrumental in overthrowing a popular leader left the US looking rather complicit in illegal activity. Prior to that the two counties had decent relations. 

Isn't it a frightening prospect when world politics, fears of nuclear armament and a possible war is in the hands of such irresponsible people as Trump and Johnson. 

7 minutes ago, Lungstib said:

Isn't it a frightening prospect when world politics, fears of nuclear armament and a possible war is in the hands of such irresponsible people as Trump and Johnson. 

Hair raising!!!

whatever happened to the brave English people?

"We will not let a country that chats, 'death to America' have the deadliest weapons on earth." God Bless America, God Bless President Donald Trump.

Edited May 10, 20188 yr by Peasandmash

It's not rocket science. Trump will enact more restrictive sanctions on this country that is the chief exporter of terrorism. 

22 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

It's not rocket science. Trump will enact more restrictive sanctions on this country that is the chief exporter of terrorism. 

So, now they will stop exporting terrorism?   I don't think so.   

28 minutes ago, Peasandmash said:

whatever happened to the brave English people?

"We will not let a country that chats, 'death to America' have the deadliest weapons on earth." God Bless America, God Bless President Donald Trump.

 

Maybe you’ve been fed a one sided story:

 

https://theotheriran.com/2015/09/12/irans-exceptional-reaction-to-911-attacks-candlelit-vigils-for-the-victims-and-60k-soccer-fans-respected-a-minutes-silence/

24 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

It's not rocket science. Trump will enact more restrictive sanctions on this country that is the chief exporter of terrorism. 

Is Trump really planning sanctions against Saudi Arabia.

 

I missed that.

25 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

It's not rocket science. Trump will enact more restrictive sanctions on this country that is the chief exporter of terrorism. 

US will sanction itself and SA?

Edited May 10, 20188 yr by stevenl

This is the same British government that has failed over two years to produce a plan for negotiations over Brexit.

18 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

This is the same British government that has failed over two years to produce a plan for negotiations over Brexit.

All hot air. Britain will do as it is told as always because if we don't, we won't get to strut on the world stage and feel Frightfully Important. 

34 minutes ago, car720 said:

Not too sure about that one.  Some cunning chaps amongst the Brits.  Let's wait and see.  The Europeans are not known for patience but instead for hot blooded poorly made decisions.

 

Your last sentence is somewhat bewildering. Are you thinking Europeans in say Sweden and Norway, are the same as Spain, Greece and Italy? 

 

 

Let Iran produce nuclear weapons, they are going to do it even though being paid not to. Then when they step over the line and attack another country just turn Tehran into a parking lot.

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

It's not rocket science. Trump will enact more restrictive sanctions on this country that is the chief exporter of terrorism. 

Except that now, the US goes it alone on sanctions as the UN, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China which were all partners in the agreement are not about to impose their own sanctions....

11 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

Let Iran produce nuclear weapons, they are going to do it even though being paid not to. Then when they step over the line and attack another country just turn Tehran into a parking lot.

Strawman fallacy. You invent a fantasy about Iran's future intentions, then attack it. 

 

Producing nuclear weapons is precisely what the current agreement has prevented from happening. Trump has now deliberately trashed that deal probably in the hope of provoking a backlash from Iran and that events will unfold exactly as you wish for.

Edited May 10, 20188 yr by dexterm

I will be honest I haven’t read up on the details on the Paris Peace accord that Trump has dropped out of, which I will rectify . But having seen the Iranian parliaments response .... burning the US flag and calling “death to America” and of course knowing they already have the view that Israel should be wiped off the map....I kinda get the feeling it’s inevitable there will be conflict soon.  Not under any circumstances can we allow them to have a nuclear option.  This is their Parliament FCS!

4 minutes ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

I will be honest I haven’t read up on the details on the Paris Peace accord that Trump has dropped out of, which I will rectify . But having seen the Iranian parliaments response .... burning the US flag and calling “death to America” and of course knowing they already have the view that Israel should be wiped off the map....I kinda get the feeling it’s inevitable there will be conflict soon.  Not under any circumstances can we allow them to have a nuclear option.  This is their Parliament FCS!

The deal Trump ripped up prevented Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

 

The threat the US is facing is in the White House.

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The deal Trump ripped up prevented Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

 

The threat the US is facing is in the White House.

And not just postponing it?

2 minutes ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

I will be honest I haven’t read up on the details on the Paris Peace accord that Trump has dropped out of, which I will rectify . But having seen the Iranian parliaments response .... burning the US flag and calling “death to America” and of course knowing they already have the view that Israel should be wiped off the map....I kinda get the feeling it’s inevitable there will be conflict soon.  Not under any circumstances can we allow them to have a nuclear option.  This is their Parliament FCS!

Did you expect the Iranian parliament to congratulate Trump for needlessly imposing $billions of sanctions impoverishing Iranian citizens. You are blaming the victim.

 

Preventing a nuclear option is exactly what the deal was achieving. Trump broke the US word and unilaterally trashed it.

 

Iran wants Israel's supremacist ideology of Zionism destroyed, not Israel or Israelis....and so do I.

1 minute ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

And not just postponing it?

Why trash the deal now when it is working?

 

What was to stop the US admin and the EU from negotiating a new non nuclear proliferation deal towards the end of the present agreement in 5 or 6 years time.

 

Why provoke Iran into tearing up the agreement too?

Tell this guy - he has an even worth hair dresser than Trump lol and his tailor is similar bad ? he could take a look at Sergey Lavrov Dressman and learn! 
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Lavrov

1 minute ago, dexterm said:

Did you expect the Iranian parliament to congratulate Trump for needlessly imposing $billions of sanctions impoverishing Iranian citizens. You are blaming the victim.

Maybe they could of been more subtle and not act like bloody cavemen ?

 

If the deal permanently stopped the nuclear option then fair enough but obviously it’s not that cut and dry for the US to just drop out like that. 

 

 

12 minutes ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

Maybe they could of been more subtle and not act like bloody cavemen ?

 

If the deal permanently stopped the nuclear option then fair enough but obviously it’s not that cut and dry for the US to just drop out like that. 

 

 

If permanent is what you want, you don't permanently get rid of nuclear weapons in the Middle East by tearing up an agreement that everyone admits was working. Cross each diplomatic bridge as you come to it.

 

What Trump has now accelerated is a nuclear race. I am sure Iran has noted that the USA hypocritically turns a blind eye to Israel's possession of nuclear bombs and that the only way to deal with bullies like Trump and Israel is to have weapons of your own. And if Iran has them, Saudi Arabia will want them too.

 

This is another fine mess you've gotten us into, Donald.

Doubt Boris could aspirational liar right now.

4 minutes ago, dexterm said:

This is another fine mess you've gotten us into, Donald

I doubt very much Donald had any input into the decision that caused this mess in the Middle East in 1948.  

22 minutes ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

Maybe they could of been more subtle and not act like bloody cavemen ?

 

If the deal permanently stopped the nuclear option then fair enough but obviously it’s not that cut and dry for the US to just drop out like that. 

 

 

You mistake how actions look as an indication of how serious a threat they are.

 

The Iranian MP’s ranting and burning the US flag looks like threatening behaviour, but is simply acting out.

 

Trump’s calm delivery of his withdrawal from the agreement appears well considered and the act of a man in control. It is anything but.

 

In this show of two sides it is Trump who is acting recklessly.