Iran welcomes German FM to pressure Europe on nuke deal
Iranian media appears suspicious that Germany can actually preserve the deal.
By SETH J. FRANTZMANIranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif shakes hands with his German counterpart Heiko Maas after their meeting in Teheran(photo credit: REUTERS/SABINE SEIBOLD)
Iran welcomed German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday in a bid to pressure his country to help the Islamic republic obtain what it wants out of the remains of the Iran nuclear deal. Maas has said that he is seeking to preserve the deal.After stops in Jordan and Iraq, Maas was greeted in Tehran by his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif, and he will also meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.Iranian media portrays Germany as a helpful link to the world. It contrasts the German position with that of France, which has appeared closer to Washington in recent comments. Fars News, for instance, says that the German Foreign Ministry’s director-general was in Tehran in May.Overall, Iranian media appears suspicious that Germany can actually preserve the deal. Press TV wondered whether Maas is merely carrying messages for the US to express “concerns.”Iran has threatened Europe that if the EU cannot come up with measures to assist it amid the escalation with the US and its isolating sanctions, then Tehran will increase uranium enrichment and begin to walk away from provisions of the deal. In addition, Zarif has pointed out that the deal doesn’t prevent Iran from continuing its ballistic missile program.Iran wants to sell itself as standing up to the Americans. It has recently sought to portray US President Donald Trump’s policies as a failure in the region, and wants to convince Europe to stand with Tehran in its current struggles with Washington.As part of this effort, Iran has condemned recent US sanctions as a violation of international law; called the “Deal of the Century” a plot; and sought to even stop using the dollar as an international currency of trade.
