Europe is stepping up the pressure on Iran in an effort to mollify the United States and keep it from backing out of the 2015 nuclear deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered an ultimatum to the European signatories to the deal on Jan. 12, saying they must agree to "fix the terrible flaws of the Iran nuclear deal" or he would refuse to extend U.S. sanctions relief to Iran.
U.S. sanctions will resume unless Trump issues fresh "waivers" to suspend them on May 12.
A German government spokesman on Monday demanded that Iran renounce its policy toward Israel and recognize its existence and halt its anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activities. The demand was made just one hour after EU foreign ministers gathered in Brussels to discuss the imposition of new sanctions on Iran as a result of its activities in the various conflicts across the Middle East and the continuing development of its missile program.
While former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel had called on Iran recognize Israel's right to exist following the signing of the 2015 accord, there was never any explicit demand from Iran to do so.
Three of the European signatories to the Iran nuclear deal – Germany, France and Britain – called for new sanctions on Iran last week in an effort to postpone the imposition of U.S. sanctions on Iran and prevent the accord from being jeopardized.
Ahead of the foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian clarified that the EU must discuss Iran's missile program and involvement in Syria and Yemen. In a move seemingly indicative of the EU Foreign Ministry's opposition to the initiative by Germany, France and Britain, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said there was no practical proposal for the imposition of new EU sanctions on Iran.
A German Foreign Ministry spokesman declined to provide details on the sanctions proposed by the three European nations, but said the Europeans were in contact with Iran about the possibility of reaching an agreement on its ballistic missile program and reining in its influence in the Middle East.
The spokesman said the Europeans have not seen any real effort in this direction by the Iranians and that, as a result, there was a need to increase pressure on Iran.
"Iran is not playing a constructive role in resolving the conflicts in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. We insist that Iran implement a constructive policy in the Middle East," he said.
