Europe, China, Russia to discuss ‘new deal’ with Iran – but curbing missile programme could be the catch
Iran has resisted calls to curb its ballistic missile programme in the past
Diplomats from Europe, China and Russia are discussing a new accord to offer Iran financial aid to curb its ballistic missile development and meddling in the region, in the hope of salvaging its 2015 nuclear deal, a German newspaper reported on Sunday.
The officials will meet in Vienna in the coming week under the leadership of senior European Union diplomat Helga Schmid to discuss next steps after the May 8 decision by US President Donald Trump to pull out of a 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, the Welt am Sonntag newspaper said, citing senior EU sources.
Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China would participate in the meeting, but the United States would not, it said.
It was not immediately clear if Iran – which has resisted calls to curb its ballistic missile programme in the past – would take part.
“The ball is in the court of the EU. They have presented different proposals, we will see if they materialise,” said the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, Ali Akbar Salehi.
Under the 2015 deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of most Western sanctions.
