US will 'never allow' Iran to have a nuclear weapon: Pence

US Vice President Mike Pence vowed Monday in an address to the Israeli parliament that Washington will never allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.

"I have a solemn promise to Israel, to all the Middle East and to the world -- the United States of America will never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon," Pence said to applause from Israeli MPs.

The 2015 deal that was meant to curb Iran's nuclear capabilities was fiercely opposed by Israel, but backed by then US president Barack Obama.

His successor Donald Trump has fiercely criticised the agreement, accusing Tehran of not sticking to it and saying it still allows the Islamic republic to support terrorist organisations across the globe -- including Israel's longstanding enemies.

Earlier this month Trump again waived nuclear-related sanctions -- as required every few months to stay in the agreement -- but demanded European partners work with Washington to improve the terms of the deal.

"The Iran nuclear deal is a disaster and the United States of America will no longer certify this ill-conceived agreement," Pence said Monday.

"Unless the Iran nuclear deal is fixed President Trump has said the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal immediately."

The other parties to the deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the European Union -- have all said it is working and that Iran is complying fully with its commitments.

US hopes for progress with Europeans on Iran: Tillerson
London (AFP) Jan 22, 2018 - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Monday he hoped to make progress with European signatories to the Iran nuclear deal on how to overhaul the landmark accord.

The US has been appealing to Britain, France and Germany to push for changes to the 2015 agreement, signed by then president Barack Obama and much criticised by his successor Donald Trump.

"I think there is a common view among the E3 that there are some areas of the JCPOA (nuclear deal) or some areas of Iran behaviour that should be addressed," Tillerson said in London, referring to the European signatories.

The three countries have agreed to establish a working group which will meet somewhere in Europe during which Tillerson said he "will see what progress we can make".

Trump has demanded changes be made to the nuclear deal and has threatened to withdraw US support, although earlier this month agreed again to waive nuclear-related sanctions on Iran.

The US is also concerned about Iran's "arms exports to Yemen and elsewhere", Tillerson said, and restrictions on the country that the deal gradually lifts beginning in 2025.

While in London, Tillerson met with his British counterpart Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Theresa May.

"They agreed on the importance of the international community coming together to counter Iran's destabilising regional activity, and the prime minister reiterated the UK's commitment to the Iran nuclear deal," the premier's spokeswoman said after their meeting.

Both Tillerson and Johnson said they would examine Iran's ballistic missile programme, which was not part of the 2015 accord.

According to the British foreign minister, there is a "pretty wide measure of agreement on the European side" to "constrain that activity".

The ballistic missile programme will be on the agenda when French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visits Iran on March 5, when he will also address Tehran's role in regional conflicts.

Iran was also being discussed at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, ahead of which Le Drian said the group would stay "firm" on the need to preserve the agreement.

The EU is working alongside the European signatories on a response to Trump's 120-day deadline for US lawmakers and European allies to fix "disastrous flaws" in the deal or face a US exit.

France says Trump Iran deal demands are like 'ultimatums'
Brussels (AFP) Jan 22, 2018 - US President Donald Trump's demands for changes to the Iran nuclear deal are like "ultimatums", France's foreign minister said Monday as European powers mull how preserve the landmark 2015 agreement.

Iran is on the agenda at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, after Trump set a 120-day deadline for US lawmakers and European allies to fix "disastrous flaws" in the deal or face a US exit.

The EU, which has staunchly defended the deal as the best way to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions, is working on a response with France, Britain and Germany -- the three European signatories.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said as he arrived for the meeting that EU ministers would stay "firm" on the need to preserve the agreement, which he called "an essential element" of global efforts against nuclear proliferation.

"We have observed with interest that President Trump did not break the agreement, even if on the other hand he has made demands that sometimes look like ultimatums," Le Drian said.

Le Drian will visit Iran on March 5 to discuss Iran's ballistic missile programme and interference in conflicts around the Middle East -- both key complaints of Washington.

Russia at UN warns collapse of Iran deal would be 'alarming'
United Nations, United States (AFP) Jan 18, 2018
Russia on Thursday warned at the UN Security Council that the collapse of the Iranian nuclear deal would send an "alarming" message to the world and compromise efforts to persuade North Korea to scrap its nuclear arsenal. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a council meeting on non-proliferation that the 2015 deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a major diplomatic ... read more

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