Mike Pence ATTACKS Europe for ‘ill-advised’ Iran strategy – PUSHES for nuclear deal exit

In particular, Mr Pence slammed efforts to defy US sanctions on Iran and maintain trade links outlined in the Iran nuclear deal. He said it was an “ill-advised step” that would strengthen Tehran. Mr Pence also branded Iran the driver of regional instability in the Middle East.

The Vice President said to the 62 countries’ representatives “sadly, some of our leading European partners have not been nearly as cooperative” as countries in the Gulf had been.

Referring to the Iranian protests in 2009, he said: “The world missed an opportunity last time to confront the regime, but not this time.”

At the US-led conference in Poland’s capital, he called on European countries to follow the US and withdraw from the nuclear deal.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was agreed in 2015 between Iran and the Obama administration, along with the UK, China, France, Russia, Germany and the EU.

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Iran promised to restrict its nuclear capabilities, including eliminating its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, and to allow international inspectors to examine its sites.

In return, the other countries would lift sanctions that were crippling Iran’s economy.

However, Trump withdrew from the deal last year and new sanctions were enforced from November.

The other countries on the hand, held strong and refused to withdraw from the deal.

Mr Pence’s speech highlighted the divisions between Europe and the US on how to deal with Iran.

He said: “This is an ill-advised step that will only strengthen Iran, weaken the EU and create still more distance between Europe and the US.

“This 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.”

This rhetoric comes after a fraught few years for the US and Europe including not only the break-up of the Iran deal, but US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change and threats to withdraw from NATO.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed support for Mr Pence with a joint public appearance yesterday.

Israel has been in an escalating conflict with Iran over their actions in Syria and support for Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border.

Mr Netanyahu told NBC that Iran “has to be countered and it has to be countered now”.

Asked if that means regime change, he said: “I don’t rule anything out.”

source: express.co.uk