Brexit has reduced Europe to a mere spectator in the battle to curb Iran’s expanding nuclear programme
Editorial: Had the UK never left the EU, the bloc might still possess the unity and leverage to lead the quest for a diplomatic solution
In the immediate aftermath of Brexit, Britain’s place in the world is already feeling a little diminished. As The Independent reports this weekend, the greatest single threat to peace across the globe right now is Iran’s renewed determination to acquire a nuclear arsenal. With the Trump-Netanyahu peace proposal met with near-universal disdain, there is more chance of miscalculation and conflict in the region than negotiation and lasting peace.
At a moment when the major European powers concerned could and should be putting on a united front, reports suggest that there is squabbling. There often is, of course, but the habit of working together through the European Union usually helps the French, the Germans and the British to reach some common purpose. With the United States more determined to go its own way in lockstep with Israel, the dangers are clear.
We knew after the Trump-ordered assassination of Qassem Soleimani that any hope of keeping the 2015 Iran nuclear deal had disappeared. The decision by the Europeans to put the agreement into a dispute procedure did not so much kill it off as draw attention to the corpse. A moment for sober realism about Iran has arrived.
Comments
Share your thoughts and debate the big issues
Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Newest first
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Oldest first
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Most liked
{{/moreThanOne}}Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Newest first
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Oldest first
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Most liked
{{/moreThanOne_p}}Follow comments
Vote
Report Comment
Subscribe to Independent Premium to debate the big issues
Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Already registered? Log inReport Comment
Delete Comment
About The Independent commenting
Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment.
The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates.