Foreign Affairs

European Nations Won’t Sanction Iran Yet For Violating Nuclear Deal

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Multiple European diplomats and China said Tuesday they are not moving forward with sanctions on Iran after the country violated the 2015 nuclear deal.

“Not for now. We want to defuse the crisis,” a European diplomat told Reuters when asked if sanctions would be imposed following Iran’s announcement Monday that it has amassed nuclear product.

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this disposition towards Iran. He urged the Middle East nation to “reverse” its breach of the deal and he “took note with concern” about their recent actions, according to an AP report.

Macron has not alerted the media of any plans to sanction.

There is a provision in the 2015 deal that states if Iran chooses to defy the agreement, world powers are obligated to re-implement sanctions that were in place before the deal was finalized.

China, another signatory to the deal, encouraged those in the nuclear accord to “exercise restraint.” The Communist nation also blames the current conflict on the U.S., saying U.S. policies were “the root cause of the current tensions,” Reuters reports.

Israeli Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu, however, urged Europe to “stand behind their commitments” and issue sanctions as soon as possible.

Iran has made headlines internationally for its disregard towards the deal. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said the decision to stockpile uranium was a response to the U.S. withdrawal in 2018, according to Reuters.

Iran has made it known it will continue to defy provisions of the 2015 deal one-by-one until the U.S. lifts the sanctions President Donald Trump imposed after Iran downed a U.S. drone.