Showing up at the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, 59-year-old U.S.-educated Iranian Foreign Minister Mahammad Javad Zarif made a strong pitch to French President Emanuel Macron to continue buying Iranian oil. Since 73-year-old President Donald Trump bailed out of the July 15, 2015 Iranian Nuke Deal, the U.S. imposed new economic sanctions forbidding Iran from selling oil to the West. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khemenei warned the West that if Europe lets Trump dictate Iranian oil sales, Tehran would resume its nuclear enrichment program. When Zarif and former Secretary of State John Kerry negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA], it attempted to trade cash-and-sanctions relief for Iran’s commitment to stop its nuclear enrichment program. Macron told Zarif that France can’t accept Iran enriching weapons grade uranium.
Trump was thrown for a loop when Zarif showed up for a two-hour meeting with Macron, discussing, among other things, the EU’s continued commitment to buy Iranian oil, defying Trump’s economic sanctions. Zarif has practically stood on his head getting the EU to ignore Trump’ boycott of Iranian oil. Trump backed out the JCPOA in response to Iran’s proxy war against Saudi Arabia and Israel. Iran supplies Gaza-based Hamas terrorists and Beirut-based Hexbollah terrorists cash-and-arms with which to wage war against Saudi Arabia and Israel. Iran also supplies arms-and-cash to Yemen’s Houthi rebels to battle Saudi Arabia, routinely firing intermediate–range missiles at Saudi’s international airport and oil infrastructure. Trump wants Iran to come back to the bargaining table and stop its war against Saudi Arabia and Israel or continue to face punitive economic sanctions.
Meeting with Macron today, Zarif hoped to split Europe off from the U.S., whose “maximum pressure” campaign has aimed at stopping Tehran’s proxy war against Saudi Arabia and Israel. “Road ahead is difficult but worth trying,” Zarif tweeted, admitting he met with German and British officials. Zarif wants the P5+1 to adhere to the JCPOA, even without the United States. Maintaining business-as-usual with Tehran could result in economic sanctions against Britain, France Germany and China. “The discussions that were held between the president and Zarif were positive and will continue,” said a French official, refusing to give any details. Zarif wants the P5+1 to resume oil sales while Tehran prosecutes its proxy wars with Saudi Arabia and Israel with impunity, something Trump refuses to do. Macron has urged Tehran to continue sticking to nuclear limits imposed by the JCPOA.
After spending hours with Trump, Macron found Trump unresponsive on the issue on ending U.S. sanctions against Tehran. Without maintaining “maximum pressure” on Iran, Trump believes the Ayatollah will continue his proxy war against Saudi Arabia and Israel. Unlike the U.S., the EU has insatiable energy needs, seeking to buy cheap Iranian. Trump doesn’t buy Macron’s attempt to resume normal relations with Tehran, pretending that Iran was not funding its proxy war against Saudi Arabia and Israel. Macron shows that the EU’s agenda involves finding any source for cheap crude oil, including buying as much natural gas from Russia to cope with shortages especially during the winter months. “Zarif will convey the Iranian leadership response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal aimed at saving Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal,” said a senior Iranian diplomat.
More than resolving the Iranian issue, the G7 dealt with the out-of-control wildfires currently burning up the Brazilian Rainforest. All G7 countries agreed to lend firefighting resources to Brazil, knowing the environmental impact affects the whole world. Iran wants nothing less than to import 700,000 barrels, as much as 1.5 million barrels, of crude oil to Europe per the 2015 Iranian Nuke Deal. Trump has shown no interest in letting go of current sanctions prohibiting Western nations from buying Iranian oil, until Iran stops its proxy war against Saudi Arabia and Israel. “We’ll do our own outreach, but, you know, I can’t stop people from talking, if they want to talk, they can talks,” Trump said about Macrons’ effort to mediate the U.S. dispute with Tehran Macron and the EU has a need to buy cheap Iranian oil, showing little regard for Iran’s mischief in Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Trump was the odd-man-out at the G7, continuing to take a hard line on Iran, while Macron and other members of the EU show their self-interest. Instead of trying to mediate between the Washington and Tehran, Macron would be better served helping Zarif understand why Trump cancelled U.S. involvement in the JCPOA. However much Marcon wants business-as-usual with Tehran, he can’t deny Iran’s destabilizing influence in the Mideast and North Africa. Highlighting differences between the EU and U.S., Macron walks a tightrope, letting Zarif think its OK to fund a proxy war against Saudi Arabia and Israel. “It’s unprecedented and given the context, its’ pretty audacious,” said a French diplomat, referring to Iran’s threat to ramp up its weapons grade uranium program. Unless Tehran wants to talk about its proxy war against Saudi Arabia and Israel, there’s little chance Trump will end the sanctions.
