EU and US send opposite signals to Iran’s reconciliation plan

The agreement between the international community and Iran is under question now that Donald Trump will preside over the United States. The new American President has taken a clear position against the deal throughout his campaign.

In contrast, earlier in November 2016 the MEPs in the European Parliamentexpressed very contrasting views, voting for a resolution that endorsed closer economic and political relations with Iran.

This study maps the views of the political forces across the EU with regard to relations with Iran, highlighting the nuances among the political families and countries.

VoteWatch Europe discovered that support for a closer relationship with Iran does not follow the usual cleavages of EU politics (left-right or centre-periphery).

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on Iran http://www.europeansources.info/record/council-conclusions-on-iran/

ESO: Background information: Iran: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the one year anniversary of the JCPOA http://www.europeansources.info/record/iran-declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-eu-on-the-one-year-anniversary-of-the-jcpoa/

ESO: Background information: Iran nuclear deal: Council adopts the legal acts to prepare for the lifting of all nuclear-related economic and financial EU sanctions http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-iran-nuclear-deal-council-adopts-the-legal-acts-to-prepare-for-the-lifting-of-all-nuclear-related-economic-and-financial-eu-sanctions/

European Parliament: Press Release, 24.10.16: Iran nuclear deal: 'A huge prize for peace and stability in a troubled region' http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20161021STO48027/

ICG: Commentary, 23.11.16: President Trump and the Art of the Iran Nuclear Deal https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/gulf-and-arabian-peninsula/iran/president-trump-and-art-iran-nuclear-deal

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