Global Geopolitical Series: Rouhani in Europe to shore up support for nuclear deal as U.S. sanctions loom

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani is visiting the European Union countries in a bid to shore up support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), better known as the Iran nuclear Agreement. The future of the agreement hangs in balance as the Iranians have declared that they would move out of the agreement if other partners to the agreement, especially the European Union fails to guarantee the take up of Iranian oil amid looming U.S. sanctions.

U.S. President moved the United States out of the Iran nuclear agreement earlier this year and announced that his administration is willing to make a fresh nuclear agreement with Iran but until that time harshest ever sanctions would be imposed. In response to the looming U.S. sanctions, the European Union has activated a mechanism of the European treaty that makes it illegal for the EU companies to abide by U.S. sanctions.

Before heading to Switzerland, Rouhani said that with Americans out the nuclear agreement in breach of international rules and multilateral commitments, Europe enjoys a special position in negotiations. From Switzerland, the Iranian president will travel to Austria where he will meet President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and oversee the signing of some documents for cooperation. Mr. Kurz has recently assumed the six-month rotating Presidency of the European Union. The six remaining parties to JCPoA including Iran would have grand discussions in Austria on Friday.

This is President Rouhani’s last visit to Europe before U.S. sanctions start setting in from August.