EU Countries Reportedly Unwilling To Meet President Trump’s Demands On Iran Nuke Deal

European powers reportedly are prepared to impose new sanctions on Iran in a bid to save the 2015 nuclear accord, however, the measures fall short of the White House’s expectations, thereby raising the prospect President Donald Trump will follow through on his threat to withdraw from the pact in May. Britain, France and Germany—parties to the nuclear agreement collectively known as the “E3″—are purportedly willing to address Tehran’s Middle East adventurism and ballistic missile program, although they remain opposed to the Trump administration’s demand to re-open the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action itself, which effectively rules out amending the so-called “sunset clauses” that remove restrictions on Tehran, including on its ability to enrich uranium, in about a decade’s time. President Trump cited differences over the atomic deal as one of the primary reasons for the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who was tasked with overseeing negotiations with the E3 to modify the accord. European capitals are believed to view Tillerson’s dismissal, and the tapping of Iran “hawk” Mike Pompeo to replace him, as a sign of the White House’s desire to altogether ditch the agreement and are thus contemplating breaking off side-talks with American officials.