The US administration plans to create and then exploit foreign policy divisions among European countries to easily advance its anti-Iran policies, a political analyst said.
“The Americans do not want to see a united European Union and intend to drive a wedge between EU member states,” Hassan Beheshtipour, an international affairs expert, told ISNA.
He made the statements in reference to a global conference focused on the Middle East, particularly Iran, which the US is scheduled to hold jointly with Poland in Warsaw on Feb. 13-14.
Beheshtipour said it would be much easier for the administration of US President Donald Trump, who has been pushing to kill the Iran nuclear agreement, to deal with a divided Europe than a united bloc.
Of all the disputes that have negatively affected transatlantic relations, no issue has divided the US from its European allies as starkly as the dispute over the Iran accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that Washington abandoned in May to the chagrin of European signatories, namely France, Germany and Britain.
The fight is about to heat up as EU officials this month plan to approve and register in France a special purpose vehicle aimed at helping European companies continue doing business with Iran and circumvent the sanctions Trump unilaterally reimposed on Tehran last year.
Support for JCPOA
Beheshtipour believes it is unlikely that European governments would fall in line behind Trump’s pullout from the deal despite US attempts.
“The Europeans do not want to adopt the same stance as the United States on JCPOA because having relations with Iran serves Europe’s economic interests. Security is another issue that is important to the Europeans. They are seeking to save the deal at any cost,” he said, referring to the fact that the EU has branded the accord “a key pillar for European and regional security”.
EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has already said she will not attend the conference in Warsaw, citing a scheduling conflict. And EU officials said they have not yet decided if lower-level officials would be sent in her place, according to Politico Europe.
It is unlikely that European governments would fall in line behind Trump’s pullout from the deal despite US attempts because they want to secure their economic and security interests, a political expert says
Some diplomats and officials have privately expressed annoyance at what they described as a clear attempt by Warsaw to cozy up to Trump at the expense of EU unity, the report said.
On why Warsaw was chosen by the US to co-host the event, Beheshtipour said, “From the perspective of the United States and Israel, Poland is a good option to play a role in exerting pressure on supporters of the JCPOA in Western Europe and building a united front against Iran because it is far away from Iran’s borders and can voice opposition to the nuclear deal in the EU.”
“Another important matter is that the Warsaw government is closer to Trump than any other European government,” he added.
Beheshtipour said it is improbable that officials from Russia and China—the other remaining members of the nuclear deal—could attend the upcoming conference because they do not want to enter the US political game.
