Since the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement in May 2018, the countries known as the E3 (France, Germany and the UK) have been under pressure from both Washington and Tehran. The Trump administration has tried albeit unsuccessfully to gain E3 support for its sanctions-based maximum pressure policy.
Most recently, Washington has also been unable to win E3 backing for the extension of the arms embargo on Iran resulting in tensions at the UN Security Council. Tehran on the other hand has been pressuring the bloc for economic aid and sanctions relief while lobbying the E3 to save the JCPOA and defend Iranian interests. Within Iran, leaders, including Supreme Leader Khamenei have been particularly critical of the E3 and called for Iran to build stronger ties with more dependable states like China.
Frustrated by Tehran’s destabilizing regional activities and escalation of its uranium enrichment programme and Washington’s unilateral approach that is perceived to be equally destabilizing, the E3 has, despite Brexit and respective domestic challenges, maintained unity on its JCPOA strategy. It has not however been able to provide meaningful political and economic solutions, resolve differences between Tehran and Washington, or address the many outstanding bilateral issues on the table. This has led many to question the bloc’s relevance and independence.
In this webinar, organized by the Middle East Institute and Chatham House’s MENA Programme, speakers will discuss and unpack the triangular challenges and opportunities for Washington, Tehran and the E3 and consider how the US presidential election might impact dynamics going forward.
