Boris Johnson said he would back a new Trump deal to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a signal the British prime minister is tacking toward the United States on reining in the Islamic Republic amid a diplomatic row between Iran and the United Kingdom.
He spoke just before the U.K. and its European allies launched a formal dispute mechanism over Iran’s breaches of the 2015 nuclear deal in a move that could ultimately spell the end of the agreement.
British diplomats accept that the 2015 deal is flawed but say they remain committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the deal is officially known, as the best way of ensuring Iran’s nuclear ambitions are thwarted.
Johnson surprised many, however, when he told the BBC on Tuesday: “President Trump is a great deal maker, by his own account. Let’s work together to replace the JCPOA and get the Trump deal instead.”
Officials were quick to clarify that the Iran deal remained in place, but that the U.K. was open to the idea of a new agreement in the future.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Parliament the JCPOA was the best option but added: “Equally … the prime minister, the United States, and our European partners are fully open to a broader initiative, which would address not just the nuclear concerns but the broader concerns around the destabilizing activity that we’ve seen recently.”
The mix of statements reflect Britain’s new place in the world as it negotiates its exit from the European Union. A close relationship with Washington will be crucial to London’s continuing economic and political clout, but British leaders are also wary of Trump’s low popularity ratings with their electorate.
Under the deal, Iran agreed with China, France, Germany, Russia, the U.K., and the U.S. to restrict its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions.
U.S. officials complain that sunset clauses mean the deal will not prevent Tehran from developing weapons in the future. Nor has it stopped Iran’s aggressive missile testing or use of regional proxy militias. And in recent months, the country has lifted limits on its production of enriched uranium, the fuel for a nuclear weapon.
Last week, Trump renewed his calls for other signatories to follow his lead, ditch the agreement, and begin work on a tougher deal. It followed the U.S. killing of Iran’s most senior military commander and growing tensions in the region.
However, the three European countries issued a statement on Sunday underlining their commitment to the deal and, on Tuesday, triggered the JCPOA’s dispute resolution mechanism, which could reimpose sanctions on Iran for failing to abide by its terms.
They said they were acting “in good faith with the overarching objective of preserving the JCPOA.”
“Given recent events, it is all the more important that we do not add a nuclear proliferation crisis to the current escalation threatening the whole region,” the countries said.
The mechanism allows 15 days for the parties to resolve differences, although the deadline can be extended if necessary. It could ultimately produce a snapback with the reimposition of the previous U.N sanctions.
