On Friday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said a return 2015 Iran nuclear deal would “not suffice” and called for a stricter agreement that would cover Iran’s ballistic missile program.
“A return to the previous agreement will not suffice anyway. There will have to be a kind of ‘nuclear agreement plus,’ which is also in our interest,” Maas said in an interview with Der Spiegel. “We have clear expectations of Iran: no nuclear weapons, but also no ballistic missile program that threatens the entire region … We need this agreement precisely because we distrust Iran.”
Iran has made it clear that they will not enter negotiations with the US until sanctions are lifted. Tehran is willing to come into quick compliance with the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), once US sanctions are gone.
Maas acknowledged the US has to concede something before working out a stricter deal. “There has to be a signal,” he said. “The decisive factor will be whether the US relaxes the economic sanctions against Iran.”
It’s not clear from Maas’ comments if he wants to scrap the JCPOA altogether or if he would favor an initial return to the deal, with a new agreement negotiated after the fact. Joe Biden has said he plans to return to the JCPOA and then negotiate a follow-on deal that would include Iran’s missile program.
Either way, Maas’ statement is not a good sign for the accord. There are a lot of forces working to sabotage the deal for good, and the European signatories were expected to be strong proponents of salvaging the JCPOA.
Maas said he had already coordinated with his “French and British counterparts” on this. In November, foreign ministers from Germany, the UK, and France met to discuss the future of the JCPOA.
Yeah, it’s not like Iran needs missiles to defend themselves against adversaries, right? I mean it’s not like generals, scientists, and others are killed by foreigners. Who the hell does Maas think he is to determine the defens policy of another country?
Last week’s assassination of the Iranian nuclear scientist (who had not worked with weaponry since 2003) is one of several. A former Israeli security officer said that the assassination had to have been in the planning for years. Years!
Obviously Maas thinks he has the power.
Probably a childhood He-man thing.
this idiot nazi has been in bed w trump for 4 years
Herr Maas, first implement the deal Germany signed in 2015.
not gonna happen
end of that story
let Israel disarm ALL of it’s 60-80+ nukes and then they all can talk.
The Germans and most of the current european Elites are simply pet poodles of the American Empire and its globe spanning war machine
If Israel would disarm ALL of it’s 60-80+ nukes, then Israel’s neighbors would attack Israel.
B.S. Pure AIPAC talking point. Perhaps Israel can sign the NPT, AS IRAN DID IN 1968! Iran ratified their signature in 1970.
How is what I said B.S.?
Because it’s nonsense. The ONLY reason Israel’s neighbors don’t attack is because Israel has the world’s lone superpower in their back pocket. Israel’s nukes would be useless otherwise except for the sampson option.
Why would Israel’s nukes would be useless?
Who they going to use them on? The proximity of your neighbors makes it next to impossible to drop a nuke on them without the resulting fallout having a devastating effect on you. Whose water are they going to steal that’s clean?
The ‘poodles’ just launched a colour revolution against the Trump administrations to keep the U.S. heavy lifting and bleeding blood and treasure for NATO and European wars.
the European signatories were expected to be strong proponents of salvaging the JCPOA.
What rubbish. It’s been their pathetic cowardice in the face of US bullying that has caused the mess. If the Euro signatories had unequivocally told the US that any attempts to bully them into supporting the resumption of sanctions would meet with counter sanctions against US business and other interests, the Trump regime would have had to back down
Very much true, but that would have meant bucking many decades of servile satrap behavior and the powerful instruments of empire like NATO and the Atlantic Council.
The U.S. Israel lobby was intensely against this agreement, yes.
The European or at least German Israel lobby either changed their mind or was slow to catch onto the threat of Iranian ballistic missiles.
Iran does have the right to self defense, but the JCPOA was never meant to benefit them, only unfreeze Iranian assets to be spent from American friendly banks to Euro-friendly banks.
Germany probably also wants reassurances of a good place in line for Iranian business, if and when trade with Iran becomes sanction-free.
Justw hat the World does not need, another strutting little corporal projecting on the international stage.
After years of diplomatic wrangling Iran signs a pact which puts its nuclear program under the highest international control control of any country. Then our government essentially destroys the pact.
The only reason why Iran might agree to a new and “improved” pact is that its people are dying from covid-19.
The Iranians are probably doing fine. COVID-19 was only useful for the short time when it looked like a possible pretext for some unilateral sanctions-lifting.
That didn’t pan out, so there’s no need for COVID-19 martyrs. The pandemic pretext is probably useful for internal control of dissidents and foreign agents, though, and unfortunate deaths of political prisoners.
None of the Iranian hardliners liked the JCPOA. Nothing short of the unconditional return of Iran into the global community would satisfy them.
The need for trade with Iran will paradoxically increase Western militant pressure on Iran to back down, but Iran doesn’t have to back down. Just wait and grow into the still-growing, still-expanding united Eurasian economy.
Is this a new version of Germany’s “Drang nach dem Osten?”
When Hitler was Chancellor it was completed as “Drang nach dem Osten. Pang nach dem Westen.” No more Pang nach dem Westen though.
“the US must send a signal”?! No, the US must do what they promised and end all sanctions on iran, and pay reparations. And yes this deal is not enough, the US must also fulfill it’s promises in the NPT to sincerely move towards abolishing all nuclear weapons, not upgrade them.
Iran is still owed money from their agreement in 1980. Their money.
That was paid back with interest by Obama and Kerry, against any future interest claims.
“Kerry defends $400 million payment to Iran, says U.S. pays no ransoms” – Gram Slattery, Reuters, August 4, 2016.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-installment-kerry-idUSKCN10F1VT
Coming from a guy who said this about Afghanistan:
“A hasty withdrawal would destroy the achievements of the last 20 years.”
So you know he’s an idiot kiss ass.
Dark comedy at its finest……………….
Iran says it wants Israel erased from the pages of history. Thousands of Iranian chant “Death to Israel!” “Death to Israel!” is printed on Iranian missiles. Iran has boasted that it helped Hezbollah & Hamas kill Israelis. Iran has offered to help anyone willing to attack Israel. That’s war mongering!
Israel wants good relations with Iran. Israel wants to buy Iranian oil & Israel wants to sell Israeli goods to Iran.
I believe Israel has attacked Iran exponentially more often that Iran has attacked Israel.
Yes Iran encourages chants against Israel but look at Israel’s international efforts against Iran, no comparison .
Iran is mostly all bark. Just don’t step into the cage of an Iran war, or worse, an Iran invasion.
That mauling would leave a nasty mark, but the Euros don’t care as long as the U.S. bears the load
To him chanting is worse than doing.
Israel wouldn’t attack Iran at all if Iran weren’t calling for Israel’s elimination.
Whereas Bibi begging for the US to war against Iran, since at least ’92, is what exactly?
And this from Trump’s largest donor:
“American Jewish billionaire Sheldon Adelson said the United States should detonate a nuclear bomb in the Iranian desert to display toughness, though without hurting a soul, before the next stage of negotiations with Tehran. It should then threaten that the next bomb would fall on Tehran, he said”
War mongering is the displacement of 700,000 Palestinians in 1948. War mongering is starting the 1967 war with a strike against Egypt. Warmongering is Israel attempting to sink the USS Liberty, killing sailors and wounding many. Warmongering is Israel spying on the U.S. Stupidity is allowing Pollard parole and then allowing him to go to Israel. He should have been brought before a firing squad. Stupidity is sending billions to Israel. Stupidity is being afraid of Israel. It should be the other way.
Israel does not want good relations with Iran. Full stop.
No one would have been killed, displaced or lost any land if Palestinian terrorists had not started a war against the Jews.
The day after the UN Partition Resolution in November 1947, Palestinian terrorists started a war against the Jews. The war started with Palestinian terrorists attacking a Jewish bus driving on the Coastal Plain near Kfar Sirkin killing five and wounding others. Half an hour later they ambushed a second bus from Hadera, killing two more. Arab snipers attacked Jewish buses in Jerusalem and Haifa.
Wars create refugees!
Israel did not start the Six Day War. The Six Day War was just a continuation of the 1956 war which was just a continuation of the 1948 war.
“We will not accept any … coexistence with Israel. … Today the issue is not the establishment of peace between the Arab states and Israel …. The war with Israel is in effect since 1948.” – Nasser, May 28, 1967
Israel withdrew from the Sinai in 1956 with the proviso that the Straits of Tiran remain open to Israel.
Nasser closed the Straits violating the cease fire.
If Israel had sent a ship through the Straits, Egypt would have fired on the ship. Israel would then have attacked Egyptian artillery. War.
“Our basic objective will be the destruction of Israel. The Arab people want to fight . . .– Nasser, May 27, 1967
“The armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are poised on the borders of Israel . . . . to face the challenge, while standing behind us are the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole Arab nation. This act will astound the world. Today they will know that the Arabs are arranged for battle, the critical hour has arrived. We have reached the stage of serious action and not declarations.” – Nasser, May, 30, 1967 after signing a defense pact with Jordan’s King Hussein
“We are now ready to confront Israel …. The issue now at hand is not the Gulf of Aqaba, the Straits of Tiran, or the withdrawal of UNEF, but the … aggression which took place in Palestine … with the collaboration of Britain and the United States.” – Nasser, June 2, 1967
“With the closing of the Straits [of Tiran], Israel faces two possibilities, both of which are blood-soaked: either it will die by strangulation in the wake of the Arab military and economic blockade, or it will die by shooting from the Arab forces surrounding it in the south, north and east.”
– Egyptian government broadcast
(Radio Cairo, May 27, 1967; quoted in Moshe Shemesh, “Did Shuqayri Call For ‘Throwing the Jews into the Sea?” Israel Studies, Summer 2003, p. 79)
nonsense–it is Israel that attacks Syria, Lebanon and violates international law–not Iran
Lebanon & Syria attacked Israel on day one. Syria attacked against & again. Both refuse to sign a peace treaty. Israel is trying to prevent these countries from obtaining more & better weapons in preparation for their next attack against Israel.
“On Friday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said a return 2015 Iran nuclear deal would “not suffice”
“A return to the previous agreement will not suffice anyway. There will have to be a kind of ‘nuclear agreement plus,’ which is also in our interest,”
Classic appeasement . Appeaser unsurprisingly wants to sell it as “in our interests”
What “ballistic missle” program??? Iran has none. Iran doesn’t have one nuclear bomb. Zilch. Nada.
We have been messing with Iran since 1953. We have bullied others to do the same. Disgraceful.
false—Iran possesses many advance weapons—missiles, drones, subs, defenses—more advanced than USA
There is a change in German political class. The new, post Cold War breed of politicians are bred to worship NATO alliance, and increase ties to US. These processes of changing of the guard have bern happening for a while now and nor just in Germany. You see marked changes in UK and in France. In UK, Brexit has been hijacked by pro-American interest groups, in France, Vatican and pro-American interest groups have been setting the tone ever since Sarkozy destroyed conservatives from the inside. In Italy, on most bizarre charges they got rid of a dangerously charismatic Salvini, and returned pro-American combination to power.
Germany is becoming majority Catholic. With the already existing pro-American groups (Greens, Liberals, etc), the change of political climate is marked. Angela Merkel has patiently worked towards this goal. The most stealthy politician, managed to take across that Rubicon very trusting German populace. Once an NGO activist — forever an activist.
But Germany is different. It is an exporting country that depends on Chinese market, Russia for production, market and energy. Industry and trade are not on board with this politics. UK will have a decision to make. Leverage its considerable global experience to strike a reasonably independent path, or become a 51st US state. Canada may be first in line.
The American consensus will lead Europe into tensions and conflict with Rusdia and China. And Iran is by definition an attack on both Russia and China. Iran is paying the price for its geographic location. Linking Indian ocean to Central Asia, and Russia and Europe to the West, China to the East. It goes without saying that Russia and China cannot allow US to get to Caspian sea. This was the main reason for Russia and Turkey providing spine to Azerbaijan, a Caspian sea country. To simultaneously eliminate Israeli-US incursion in Azerbaijan politics and arms trade — and block pro-American new Armenian regime from letting EU and NATO institutions waltz into 20% of Azeri territory. Iran has been protected from any incursion into Caspian sea.
But the problem arises from weakening economies in the West, as epidemics has eroded its economic prospects. Even before epidemics — all Western economies were having problems. With high levels of indebtedness, lagging technological advancements, deteriorating industrial base and import dependency — financial picture was already weak.
What does then Iran symbolize? It symbolizes the challenge that Russia and China represent to the West. So instead of JCPOA as means of PEACEFULLY absorbing Iran into West — Trump declared it a pipe dream.
And to others in the world, Iran increasingly represents failure of the West to compete with stabilizing influence of Eurasian China-Russia core.
Clearly, as Germany and others in Europe are changing the tune — Trump actually made them see that Iran can never become a pliant vassal.
So what do these brave Europeans do? Demand that Iran negotiates for its surrender, while simultaneously increasing animosity towards Russia and China. Attempts at separating them failed. Getting gulf countries to front a war failed — in spite of many false flag opportunities provided. And with both Egypt and Turkey providing convenient grouping of Sunni and Shia countries — Israel’s role in the region is diminishing. Getting Bahrain and UAE on board is a poor consolation for broader failure. It is US failure. Why? In every single gathering US always had one staring position — US and Israel’s interests. Other countries’ interests were never considered. It was not considered necessary. Now is too late.
As far as the JCPOA goes the five US satrapies need to deliver for 10 years BEFORE any new negotiations can be contemplated.
The Euros look out for number one, and that is not the United States of America.
The 2020 fraudulent election was a U.S. colour revolution and not orchestrated by Patriots, but by Europe First globalist Democrats.
In any case, the JCPOA worked for the EU in 2015. Its not 2015 anymore. The underlying fundamentals have changed, not the least of which is the end of the global derivatives stake in oil trading.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/financial-n-option-will-settle-trumps-oil-war/5699905?print=1
https://www.globalresearch.ca/trump-now-wants-talks-iran/5679733
That protection from war popped with COVID-1984 and the oil price collapse.
America will be asked to ‘lead’ Europe in seeking a new deal with Iran, or war with Iran, ’cause Iran gots wealth and the Euros need it. The Americans can’t afford to fight it, but everyone conveniently hates America, Europe’s Dumb Giant enforcer, anyway.
I think Iran’s missile program is their most effective defense strategy.
I doubt Iran will ever sacrifice defense in today’s world.
However I guess it depends on what is offered.
No deal. They are trying to castrate Iran so they can more easily dismantle them at a later date. Just ask Libya and Iraq if you don’t believe me.
How about a ballistic missile ban for the entire region, or is it only Iran that has to be disarmed?
Russia and China should establish bases in Iran to keep the US, Israel, UK, France and Saudi Arabia out of its territory. If they had bases in the rest of the ME, the wars in Libya, Syria, Iraq would never occur. If they established bases in Somalia and Pakistan, no more drone strikes would occur there.
Iran says it wants Israel eliminated. Iran says it will help anyone willing to attack Israel. Iran gave weapons to Hezbollah & Hamas to murder Israelis. Then Israel murdered some Iranians. Call it even! Stop the hostilities! Don’t retaliate because then Israel will retaliate & then Iran will retaliate, & then Israel will retaliate, & then Iran will retaliate & then Israel will retaliate, & then ,… Give peace a chance!
Iran is a land mass. Land masses don’t talk.
The Germans are part of the deal. They have not helped to enforce it since the USA opted out, and are already acting against the NPT by allowing the US nukes to be parked in Germany. They are in no position to make conditions to an already-agreed deal which the US illegal sanctions on Iran has damaged Iran even more.