ELNET Responds to the European Decision on Iranian Nuclear Violations

The European Leadership Network (ELNET) welcomes the decision by the governments of the UK, France and Germany (the E3) to trigger the Dispute Resolution Mechanism in the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). The mechanism provides recourse in the event of a violation of the agreement and could eventually lead to reimposing sanctions.  ELNET believes this is a step in the right direction and an inevitable outcome of Iran’s gradual encroachment on its commitments under the JCPOA. The time has come for Europe to draw a line in the sand.

ELNET calls on EU High Representative Josep Borrell to adopt the E3 position and urges the EU to apply sanctions on Iran should it not cooperate with the Dispute Resolution Mechanism and continue to violate the JCPOA.

Notwithstanding legitimate policy differences with the US, the EU should push back against Iranian encroachment of the JCPOA which would bring its nuclear breakout capacity to dangerous levels. The EU should also stand firm against Iran’s destabilizing activities across the Middle East, engagement in terror in Europe, and severe violations of human rights against its own citizens as recently demonstrated by the regime’s crack-down on peaceful demonstrations.

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Washington Post: European countries trigger dispute mechanism in Iran nuclear deal

“European countries on Tuesday triggered a dispute mechanism in their nuclear deal with Iran, a move that could lead to the return of United Nations sanctions on Tehran. Britain, France and Germany said that they had been “left with no choice” but to make the move.”

Joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action: 14 January 2020

“Instead of reversing course, Iran has chosen to further reduce compliance with the JCPOA and announced on 5 January that “the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the fifth step in reducing its commitments, discards the last key component of its limitations in the JCPOA, which is the ‘limit on the number of centrifuges’”, and that “the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program no longer faces any operational restrictions”, including on enrichment and enrichment-related matters.

We have therefore been left with no choice, given Iran’s actions, but to register today our concerns that Iran is not meeting its commitments under the JCPOA and to refer this matter to the Joint Commission under the Dispute Resolution Mechanism, as set out in paragraph 36 of the JCPOA.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement on the Iranian nuclear violations: 

“We know exactly what is happening with the Iranian nuclear program. Iran thinks it can achieve nuclear weapons. I reiterate: Israel will not allow Iran to achieve nuclear weapons. I also call on all Western countries to impose snapback sanctions at the UN now.”