Trump to decide fate of Iran nuke deal

Teheran seeks world powers' help in nuke deal if US quits

It is clear that the traditional animosity between the United States and Iran has returned for the foreseeable future, experts said, as US President Donald Trump was scheduled to announce on Tuesday whether he will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

Trump has repeatedly critized the deal, which eased economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for Teheran limiting its nuclear program, unless France, Germany and Britain - which also signed the agreement - fix what he has called its flaws.

A senior US official said the European allies had moved significantly in Trump's direction on what he sees as the defects - the failure to address Iran's alleged ballistic missile program, the terms under which international inspectors visit suspected Iranian sites and "sunset" clauses under which some terms expire.

The official did not know if the Europeans had done enough to convince Trump to remain in the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or the JCPOA.

European diplomats said privately they expected Trump to effectively withdraw from the agreement, which was struck by six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - and Iran in July 2015.

"It's pretty obvious to me that unless something changes in the next few days, I believe the president will not waive the sanctions," one European diplomat said.

European leaders have warned that Trump's withdrawal would strike a blow to the alliance between Western Europe and the US.

Iran has ruled out renegotiating the accord and threatened to retaliate if the US pulls out.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that the possible withdrawal would have harmful consequences.

Trump gave no indication of which way he was leaning on Monday, saying only in a Twitter post that he would announce his decision at 2 pm (local time) on Tuesday.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned on Tuesday the country could face "some problems" if the US withdraws.

"It is possible that we will face some problems for two or three months, but we will pass through this," he said, stressing Iran wants to keep "working with the world and constructive engagement with the world".

Tasnim news agency on Monday quoted Rouhani as saying that "we have our own plan. If what we demand from the JCPOA is fulfilled by the non-American (parties in the deal), the US withdrawal will be the removal of a trouble".

Allies' commitment

Britain, France and Germany remain committed to the accord and, in an effort to address US complaints, want to open talks on Iran's ballistic missile program, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 - when pivotal provisions of the deal expire - and its role in the wars in Syria and Yemen.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, in Washington this week, said the deal's weaknesses could be remedied.

"At this moment, Britain is working alongside the US and our French and German allies to ensure that they are," he said in a commentary in The New York Times.

Ardavan Amir-Aslani, an author and international lawyer with an office in Teheran, said: "the smart move would be to wait out the end of Trump's mandate, stay in the nuclear deal and build up something with the Europeans, however limited. Wait until this blows over."

"That's what they should do - but we'll see."

Reuters, Xinhua and AP contributed to this story.

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(China Daily 05/09/2018 page12)