GETTING OUR WAY?– AT 12:18 P.M. ET:  Like him or not, President Trump has real international impact.  Witness how, though the intelligent use of implied force, he has brought North Korea to the negotiating table.

Now he is making it clear that he will carry out his pledge to get out of the Iran nuclear deal unless the agreement is modified to his liking.  And European nations are, if only grudgingly, starting to take action in the president's direction, but probably not strong enough action.  From Reuters: 

BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) - Britain, France and Germany have proposed fresh EU sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missiles and its role in Syria’s war, according to a confidential document, in a bid to persuade Washington to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.

The joint paper, seen by Reuters, was sent to European Union capitals on Friday, said two people familiar with the matter, to sound out support for such sanctions as they would need the support of all 28 EU member governments.

The proposal is part of a EU strategy to save the accord signed by world powers that curbs Tehran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons, namely by showing U.S. President Donald Trump that there are other ways to counter Iranian power abroad.

Trump delivered an ultimatum to the European signatories on Jan. 12 that they must agree to “fix the terrible flaws of the Iran nuclear deal” - which was sealed under his predecessor Barack Obama - or he would refuse to extend U.S. sanctions relief on Iran. U.S. sanctions will resume unless Trump issues fresh “waivers” to suspend them on May 12.

“We will therefore be circulating in the coming days a list of persons and entities that we believe should be targeted in view of their publicly demonstrated roles,” the document said, referring to Iranian ballistic missile tests and Tehran’s role backing Syria’s government in the seven-year-old civil war.

Analysts say the nuclear agreement, touted at the time as a breakthrough reducing the risk of a devastating wider war in the Middle East, could collapse if Washington pulls out.

The document said Britain, France and Germany were engaged in “intensive talks with the Trump administration to “achieve a clear and lasting reaffirmation of U.S. support for the (nuclear) agreement beyond May 12”.

COMMENT:  The problem, of course, is that Europe's attitude toward Iran is heavily influenced by European business interests seeking profit in that country.  I really wonder if the kind of sanctions envisioned by the Europeans will be enough to satisfy Trump.  I wonder if the sanctions will even be applied. 

In May, Trump must either newly certify the Iran agreement, or begin moving America out of it.

March 19, 2018