Periodic alerts providing news and analysis on the negotiations and implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between the P5+1 (China, Germany, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and Iran over the latter's nuclear program. To receive these by email, subscribe to our regular updates list.
Several European ministers will not attend the upcoming U.S.-Polish summit on the Middle East expected to focus on Iran, a likely U.S. presidential candidate calls for U.S. re-entry into the JCPOA, and the Trump administration's Missile Defense Review cites the possibility of an Iranian ICBM.
As the IAEA continues to find Iran in compliance with its obligations under the JCPOA, the United States has reimposed a second round of sanctions with waivers.
European Union states have responded to U.S. sanctions to facilitate legitimate trade with Iran, while a majority of the UN Security Council expresses support for the JCPOA.
Iran is pushing for EU measures to preserve oil sales, while other states seek waivers from the U.S. sanctions. In the meantime, Iran’s Defense Ministry announced plans Sept. 1 to boost production of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley continues to mischaracterize the terms of the JCPOA.
During an Aug. 19-22 trip to Israel, National Security Advisor John Bolton said U.S. sanctions reimposed on Iran are having economic effects “even stronger than we anticipated” and that the United States expects that Europeans will see that the “choice between doing business with Iran or doing business with the United States is very clear.”