Iran's Rouhani Writes to Europe Leaders On Nuclear Deal Demands

(Bloomberg) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has written to counterparts in France, Germany and Britain outlining his country’s demands from its partners to remain in the nuclear accord, the official government website said on Wednesday.

Dowlat.ir did not give details of the letters, but said Rouhani had decided to clearly express his demands and views on the deal to French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Iran and the five remaining signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action are scrambling to salvage the deal after President Donald Trump announced last month that the U.S. was withdrawing and would reimpose sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

The EU has pledged to defend the agreement, protect European companies hurt by the U.S. decision and offer alternative financing for Iranian investments. Finding practical ways around U.S. sanctions has proved tricky, however, and the window for European partners to persuade Tehran to stay in the deal is narrowing.

Iran has threatened to resume uranium enrichment at full throttle if the remaining signatories to the deal can’t find ways to ensure that it benefits from staying in.

Rouhani is due to address the issue live on Iranian state television later on Wednesday.
He flies to Switzerland and Austria for talks with top officials next week.

--With assistance from Golnar Motevalli.

To contact the reporter on this story: Arsalan Shahla in Dubai at ashahla@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Lin Noueihed at lnoueihed@bloomberg.net

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