Keeping the P5+1 nuclear deal intact after the withdrawal of the United States is a major task, but one Iranian officials appear determined to tackle. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif is heading out this week on a global tour of major countries, trying to secure diplomatic cooperation from other nations.
Javad Zarif
Zarif will be visiting China first, then Russia. This will be followed up with visits to Germany, Britain, and France, all the remaining parties of the deal. All these nations have expressed interest in keeping the deal intact even without the US.
Saving the deal is going to rest heavily on ensuring these nations can combine efforts to block US sanctions from preventing global companies doing business in Iran. President Hassan Rouhani has said Iran’s intention is to stay in the deal so long as their interests are protected.
Iran’s conservative opposition is aligning increasingly against the deal. They long opposed the pact on the grounds the US couldn’t be trusted. With the US having withdrawn, they are now demanding Rouhani “apologize” for trying the deal at all.
