The United States urged Britain on Sunday to ditch its support for the Iran nuclear deal and instead join forces with Washington to counter the global threat it says Tehran poses.
U.S. Ambassador to Britain Woody Johnson criticised Tehran for funding “proxy wars and malign activities” instead of investing in its economy. He said Iran needed to make tangible and sustained changes to behave like a normal country. “Until then, America is turning up the pressure and we want the U.K. by our side,” wrote Mr. Johnson in The Sunday Telegraph.
“It is time to move on from the flawed 2015 deal. We are asking global Britain to use its considerable diplomatic power and influence and join us as we lead a concerted global effort towards a genuinely comprehensive agreement.”
Asked about Mr. Johnson’s article, the British Foreign Office pointed to comments from Minister of State Alistair Burt, who last week ruled out Britain going along with the United States.
Mr. Burt said the deal was an important part of regional security and that, with the European Union, the government was trying to protect British companies from the U.S. sanctions when dealing with Iran.