Iran nuclear deal to be a key topic at G7 summit

Germany's ambassador to Canada says the fallout over the U.S. announcement to leave the Iran nuclear deal will be a big topic at the upcoming G7 summit.

"There will be a lot of talk," Sabine Sparwasser told The House.

Donald Trump's announcement this week that the U.S. would withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — the 2015 deal signed by China, Russia, the U.S. and three European powers that provided economic incentives for Iran to abandon their nuclear ambitions — was no surprise, she said. But it's still disappointing.

France, Germany and the U.K. have all professed their willingness to remain in the agreement even without the U.S.

While Canada isn't a direct player in the deal, its roll in leading the June G7 conference in Quebec and relationship with the other partners prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to weigh in.

"We regret that the United States has chosen to step out," he said Wednesday. "We will respect the capacity of individual countries to make their decisions about foreign policy."

Sparwasser agreed with Trudeau that it's key to respect jurisdiction and rules-based order in international relations.

But in her mind, Canada's position is clear.

Angry Iranian lawmakers burn U.S. flag in parliament

7 years ago

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Also burned was a copy of nuclear pact from which U.S. has withdrawn

"I think Canada has been very clear in its desire to see this nuclear deal continued," Sparwasser said.

Despite willingness from the remaining nations in the JCPOA to find a solution, the future of the deal is uncertain.

German officials will be meeting with their Iranian counterparts, Sparwasser said, as they try to convince Iran to continue to respect the agreement.

Much of the incentives for Iran to keep to the deal came from threats of hefty U.S. sanctions. Now that Trump has threatened to replace them, the other countries will likely have to find another way to sweeten the pot.

There's not a clear path forward, but she said Germany doesn't believe cutting the agreement gets anyone ahead.