Mike Pence has accused some of Washington’s traditional European allies of trying to break US sanctions on Iran, as the Trump administration ratchets up its efforts to build a coalition against the Islamic Republic.
Speaking during a US-led conference on the Middle East in Warsaw on Thursday, the US vice-president called on Europe to follow America in abandoning a landmark deal struck three years ago to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
In a speech that laid bare the gulf between Washington and Europe over how to deal with Tehran, Mr Pence reserved particular criticism for Germany, France and the UK, which two weeks ago set up a mechanism to keep trade links with Iran open. US officials see the initiative as an attempt to circumvent sanctions imposed by the US last year.
“[This is] an ill-advised step that will only strengthen Iran, weaken the EU and create still more distance between Europe and the US,” Mr Pence said.
“The time has come for our European partners to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and join with us as we bring the economic and diplomatic pressure necessary to give the Iranian people, the region and the world the peace, security and freedom they deserve.”
Mr Pence’s comments came as Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president, joined Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks on Syria in the Russian coastal resort of Sochi. Ahead of the discussions, the Russian and Iranian leaders reaffirmed the close ties between their countries.
Since Donald Trump became US president, big differences have emerged between Washington and the EU on how to prevent Iran gaining nuclear weapons. The US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal last year and has reimposed sanctions on Tehran, while EU nations have been trying to keep the pact alive.
The divisions have come to the fore in the run-up to the summit in Warsaw, to which Iran has not been invited. Originally billed by Mr Pompeo as an event focused on Iran, its official scope was subsequently broadened to cover a host of regional issues after some invitees balked at the prospect of an openly anti-Iran agenda.
In a sign of European reservations, the EU, France and Germany did not send their most senior officials to the gathering, which is being attended by around 60 nations including the US, Israel, and various Middle Eastern and European states.
However, any lingering impression that the summit was not aimed squarely at building a coalition against Iran was dispelled by Mr Pence’s speech, in which he said that participants had agreed Iran was “the greatest threat to peace and security in the Middle East”.
“The Iranian regime is the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world. They have bombed the American embassies, murdered hundreds of American troops and even to this day they hold hostage citizens of the US and other western nations,” he added, before accusing Iran of defying UN sanctions, wanting to destroy the state of Israel and plotting terror attacks on European soil.
Iran has dismissed the gathering as a “circus” and its foreign minister on Wednesday played down the chances of anything tangible emerging from it. “I believe it is dead on arrival,” Mohammad Javad Zarif told foreign media in Tehran. “It’s another attempt by the US to pursue an obsession with Iran that is not well founded.”
Tehran and Moscow have built warmer ties since western sanctions were first imposed on Russia in 2014, amid attempts by Mr Putin to move closer to other adversaries of Washington.
“In terms of the development of bilateral relations, I would like to note that, in general, all our plans are being realised and implemented,” Mr Putin told his Iranian counterpart in Sochi on Thursday. “And it would be extremely important for us to continue to strengthen this area. I hope that today’s meeting will give an additional impetus to the development of our bilateral relations.”
“Fortunately, bilateral relations between Russia and Iran are very good and dynamic; these relations are progressing towards a strategic level,” Mr Rouhani responded. “We hold consultations on various items of the international and regional agenda, including Syria, and our co-operation in settling the Syria issue has been successful.”
