The National:
America’s exit from the Iran nuclear deal in May was the culmination of President Donald Trump’s long-declared antipathy towards the agreement. With all other parties to the accord standing by it, however, a different diplomatic battle is likely to unfold in 2019. This time, with the United States up against Europe.
After reimposing American sanctions on the Iranian economy, the Trump administration targeted people and entities tied to the regime. Moves are also afoot to curb Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its military presence in Syria alongside Lebanese proxy Hezbollah.
At the United Nations, the US has cited the Revolutionary Guards’ supply of missiles and weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen as a major regional threat, urging action against Iran over ballistic missile tests. Britain, France and Germany – the European powers in the Iran deal – have backed that US effort at the UN. But it is the nuclear agreement that is dominating policy.
