Wary of Trump, EU courts Iran to boost moderates before polls

[webfact]

Wary of Trump, EU courts Iran to boost moderates before polls

By Alissa de Carbonnel

REUTERS

 

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with Iranian officials and ambassadors of Islamic countries, in Tehran, Iran, April 25, 2017. Leader.ir/Handout via REUTERS

 

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Wary of U.S. President Donald Trump's tough talk on Iran, the European Union is courting Tehran to show Iranians preparing to vote in a May 19 presidential poll that it is committed to a nuclear deal and they stand to benefit, EU diplomats say.

 

Europe's energy commissioner is leading more than 50 European firms in a business forum in Tehran over the weekend - the latest bid to foster new ties in the 16 months since Iran curbed its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

 

Of the six major powers who engineered the deal - the United States,Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia - EU nations bore the brunt of the oil embargo on Iran and stand to gain the most from a thaw they view as a victory for European diplomacy.

 

Meeting with Iran's atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi, Commissioner Miguel Arias-Canete echoed the EU's mantra that it is "fully committed" to the 2015 deal and expects the same from all other parties.

 

But the bloc's leverage remains limited - particularly if it is not able to shield European firms from the risk of remaining U.S. sanctions and encourage big banks to reverse over a decade of Iran's exclusion from the international financial system.

 

The latter was a theme of another big conference in Tehran on Saturday attended by Germany and Iran's central banks.

 

Some Western companies have returned - planemakers Airbus <AIR.PA> and Boeing <BA.N> and carmakers Peugeot–Citroen <PEUP.PA> and Renault <RENA.PA> - but many more have hung back, fearing Trump will tighten the screws on an already complex set of rules for engaging with Iran.

 

The pace and scale of Western investment is at the heart of a challenge by hardline rivals of pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani, who is seeking re-election in May.

 

Iran's ultimate authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his loyalists have criticized Rouhani's policy of rapprochement with the West, arguing the 2015 nuclear accord had not yielded the benefits he promised.

 

"He needs more time... He has to be given a chance," Iran's vice president, Masoumeh Ebtekar, told Reuters in an interview.

 

"There is a lot of enthusiasm about working with Iran now and ... I hope that the American administration wakes up to these realities," she added.

 

The Trump administration said on April 18 it was launching an inter-agency review of whether the lifting of sanctions against Iran was in the United States' national security interests, while acknowledging that Tehran was complying with the deal to rein in its nuclear programme.

 

CONFRONTATION RISK

 

EU diplomats voiced concern that a more confrontational stance by the Trump administration could empower Iran's hardliners ahead of the elections - although there is no sign the United States intends to walk away from the deal.

 

EU diplomats say they share U.S. concerns over Iran's human rights record, its ballistic missiles tests, its funding of blacklisted militant groups and its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

 

"We disagree that we have to address these issues by ditching the (nuclear) deal," one EU diplomat told Reuters. "This will only empower those (in Iran) with a more confrontational stance - bring out the worst in the system."

 

For now, Iranian leaders have kept their cool, with Salehi saying Iran will only take "reciprocal action" if the U.S. is found in breach of the deal - leaving EU diplomats caught in a balancing act between the two long-time rivals.

 

In recent months, European leaders have been frequent visitors to Tehran with businessmen in tow - in an effort to keep alive the 2015 accord, which also has the support of Russia and China, rivals for influence in the Islamic Republic.

 

The bloc's trade with Iran has partially recovered - much of that due to oil exports from Iran in what one EU official called "a direct incentive to stick to the deal".

 

The International Monetary Fund this year applauded Iran's "impressive recovery", with growth expected over 6 percent for the last 12 months and low inflation - a record that Rouhani has been keen to defend.

 

But the hoped-for a boom since the EU and United Nations sanctions over Iran's nuclear program were lifted a year ago has been hampered by separate U.S. measures in place over Iran's missile program.

 

"The Europeans want to at least create the optical impression they are politically invested in this deal working," said Ellie Geranmayeh of the European Council on Foreign Relations. "Even if from a commercial perspective, companies are essentially on hold." 

 

The risk of falling afoul of U.S. measures has been enough to persuade major Western banks to stay away from Iran, and Tehran accuses Washington of undermining the nuclear deal by scaring investors away from Iran.

 

While acknowledging domestic criticism, Salehi told reporters Tehran will remain committed to the deal regardless of the outcome of next month's vote.   

 

There are also signs that the EU's firm stance has given U.S. officials pause, with senators saying they delayed a bill to slap new sanctions on Iran due to worries over how the bloc would react and the Iranian presidential elections.

 

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Philippa Fletcher)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-05-01

[ilostmypassword]

Who is the Mullahs' best friend?  Donald Trump.

[Morch]

3 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

Who is the Mullahs' best friend?  Donald Trump.

 

Quote

In recent years, at least among Shia clerics, the term ruhani (spiritual) has been promoted as an alternative to mullah and akhoond, free of pejorative connotations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullah#Iran

 

Quote

He was born Hassan Fereydoun (or Fereydun, in reference to a just king in Persian mythology, Persian: ‌حسن فریدون‎‎, Persian pronunciation: [hæˌsæn-e feɾejˈdun]) and later changed his last name to Rouhani, which means 'spiritual' or 'cleric'; also transliterated as Rowhani, Ruhani, or Rohani).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Rouhani#Name

[sanukjim]

If the EU are "courting" Iran then there is no hope for them.I did not think that the EU was that desperate.Maybe the EU should get Obama to be on their negotiations committee.

[hansnl]

1 hour ago, sanukjim said:

If the EU are "courting" Iran then there is no hope for them.I did not think that the EU was that desperate.Maybe the EU should get Obama to be on their negotiations committee.

It just shows those unelected, undemocratic europhiles are utter idiots.

They are getting very dangerous.

 

[Baerboxer]

23 minutes ago, hansnl said:

It just shows those unelected, undemocratic europhiles are utter idiots.

They are getting very dangerous.

 

 

Indeed. But note that Germany is playing a prominent role according to the OP. Germany, not the EU, quoted as meeting the Iranian banks.

 

If Germany can see business for German companies then the EU will act. Hmmm.

[elgordo38]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

 

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Wary of U.S. President Donald Trump's tough talk on Iran, the European Union is courting Tehran to show Iranians preparing to vote in a May 19 presidential poll that it is committed to a nuclear deal and they stand to benefit, EU diplomats say.

Yes the EU will benefit. Its called sucking up for business. No W like an old W

[elgordo38]

11 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

Who is the Mullahs' best friend?  Donald Trump.

Can I Mullah sorry mull over that for a while

[elgordo38]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

"Even if from a commercial perspective, companies are essentially on hold." 

 

Like in chomping at the bit.

[elgordo38]

Yes the devil has first dibs on the EU soul. 

[Srikcir]

On 5/1/2017 at 9:27 AM, webfact said:

the European Union is courting Tehran

Very rationale.

Iran holds the world's fourth-largest proved crude reserves and the second-largest natural gas reserves.

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/14/iran-deal-corporate-winners-from-the-nuclear-agreement.html

Russia is one of the EU's largest suppliers of energy, accounting for 39% of its natural gas imports (2013).

https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/imports-and-secure-supplies/supplier-countries

Substitution of Russian energy for Iranian energy will give EU more economic certainty and more political stability.

 

[ilostmypassword]

20 hours ago, sanukjim said:

If the EU are "courting" Iran then there is no hope for them.I did not think that the EU was that desperate.Maybe the EU should get Obama to be on their negotiations committee.

The next thing you know, they'll be saying nice things about the leader of North Korea. You know, the country that actually has nuclear weapons.  Who would ever do such a despicable thing?

[boomerangutang]

20 hours ago, sanukjim said:

If the EU are "courting" Iran then there is no hope for them.I did not think that the EU was that desperate.Maybe the EU should get Obama to be on their negotiations committee.

European leaders aren't dummies.  I can't say the same for US leaders in the WH.  Europeans know that conversations can lead to progress.   Trump knows threats and bomb dropping.   

 

Europeans are smart to by-pass Trump and will be doing so increasingly - as it soaks in what a wishy-washy uninformed dufus he is.  

[boomerangutang]

1 minute ago, ilostmypassword said:

The next thing you know, they'll be saying nice things about the leader of North Korea. You know, the country that actually has nuclear weapons.  Who would ever do such a despicable thing?

Have u been reading the latest news?   Europeans aren't saying nice things about Kim, .....but Trump is ("he's a smart cookie")

[ilostmypassword]

16 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

Have u been reading the latest news?   Europeans aren't saying nice things about Kim, .....but Trump is ("he's a smart cookie")

That was the point. I probably should have written "The next thing you know, European leaders would say that they'd be honored to meet with the leader of North Korea."

[Morch]

35 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

European leaders aren't dummies.  I can't say the same for US leaders in the WH.  Europeans know that conversations can lead to progress.   Trump knows threats and bomb dropping.   

 

Europeans are smart to by-pass Trump and will be doing so increasingly - as it soaks in what a wishy-washy uninformed dufus he is.  

 

European leaders are no different than other politicians. They act on personal and national interests, same as any leaders worldwide. There isn't any extra value attached to politicians hailing from Europe.

 

And they are not "bypassing" Trump, really. Rather playing it cautious as to avoid a confrontation with the US. More so when  it comes to banks and business ventures. Whether or not this will develop in the way you claim remains to be seen.

[ilostmypassword]

22 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Indeed. But note that Germany is playing a prominent role according to the OP. Germany, not the EU, quoted as meeting the Iranian banks.

 

If Germany can see business for German companies then the EU will act. Hmmm.

Once again ascribing supernatural powers to the German state.  The power Germany has now stems from the fact that current circumstances are favorable to its economy and it has the power to say "no" to any change.  It doesn't have to power to innovate or to force other nations to follow its lead.

[mrwebb8825]

It smells of EU and NATO looking for a way to pay what they owe without paying what they owe.

[tomwct]

The European Union is an un-elected dictatorship run for the benefit of themselves and their friends. No wonder why

Britain wanted to exit. More countries will follow and this kissing up to the biggest terrorist country in the world, Iran,

nothing is changing! Go President Trump!

[Morch]

1 hour ago, tomwct said:

The European Union is an un-elected dictatorship run for the benefit of themselves and their friends. No wonder why

Britain wanted to exit. More countries will follow and this kissing up to the biggest terrorist country in the world, Iran,

nothing is changing! Go President Trump!

 

From a parallel topic:

 

Quote

Britain can no longer rely on U.S. leadership on Middle East policy and must work more closely with Europe to ensure the Iran nuclear deal stays in place, among other policies, a committee of lawmakers said in a report on Tuesday.

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/981160-uk-can-no-longer-rely-on-us-leadership-over-middle-east-lawmakers/

Edited May 3, 2017 by Morch