Following talks in Brussels with his Iranian and European counterparts, he said the 2015 accord was a considerable accomplishment that was preventing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

Mr Johnson stressed that Iran was fully in compliance with it.

US President Donald Trump wants to amend the deal or withdraw from it.

In October, he refused to recertify for Congress that Iran was complying, accusing it of “not living up to the spirit” of the agreement.

Why does the EU back the deal?

At a news conference after meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday, representatives of the EU, the UK, France and Germany reiterated their support for the nuclear deal they helped negotiate.

“The deal is working; it is delivering on its main goal, which means keeping the Iranian nuclear programme in check and under close surveillance,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said.

“The unity of the international community is essential to preserve a deal that is working, that is making the world safer and that is preventing a potential nuclear arms race in the region. And we expect all parties to continue to fully implement this agreement.”

Mr Johnson described the deal, which is known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as a “considerable diplomatic accomplishment”.

“I don’t think that anybody has produced a better alternative to the JCPOA as a way of preventing the Iranians from going ahead with the acquisition of a military nuclear capability,” he said. “It is incumbent on those who oppose the JCPOA to come up with that better solution because we have not seen it so far.”

Critics of the deal in Congress have also proposed amending legislation to ensure that US sanctions would “snap back” automatically if Iran carried out certain actions.

On Friday, Mr Trump is set to decide whether to extend relief for Iran from some US economic sanctions.

The sanctions, which were suspended in 2016, had cut Iran’s central bank out of the international financial system and imposed penalties for buying Iranian oil.

US officials told the Associated Press on Wednesday that Mr Trump was expected to extend the sanctions relief for another 120 days. But they said he might also impose new, targeted sanctions on Iranian businesses and people allegedly involved in missile tests, supporting terrorism, and human rights abuses.

Why is Iran’s missile programme controversial?

The US and EU say Iranian ballistic missile tests conducted in the past year have violated UN Security Council resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal.

The resolution calls upon Iran not to “undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology”.

Iran’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that if the US withdrew from the agreement, it was ready to give an “appropriate and heavy response”.

What does Mr Trump want to change?

The US president declared in October that the agreement was “one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into”, and warned that within a few years Iran would be able to “sprint towards a rapid nuclear weapons breakout”.

He accused Iran of committing “multiple violations” and promised to work with Congress to “address the deal’s many serious flaws”.

Mr Trump said they included the deal’s “sunset clauses”, one of which allows for the lifting of restrictions on Iran’s uranium enrichment programme after 2025.

He also wants to give the International Atomic Energy Agency access to Iranian military sites, and for the deal to cover Iran’s ballistic missile programme.

Iran says the missiles it has tested are not designed to carry nuclear warheads and insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful.

The European ministers expressed serious concern about Iran’s ballistic missile programme, as well as its alleged transfer of missiles and assistance to non-state entities in the Middle East. But they said the issue should be kept separate from the nuclear deal.

Source: BBC

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Addressing the press after private talks with President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Flagstaff House earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Johnson relayed the British government’s desire to deepen ties with Ghana.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0XOK2axjuVK2NxSlvmxVWPh4RzPHkj0A”]“We hope to have an even deeper friendship going forward. Particularly, we want to make sure that British firms come here in greater numbers and greater strengths to invest in Ghana and take advantage of the fantastic opportunities there are in this wonderful country,” he said

President Akufo-Addo also described the talks with the British Foreign Secretary as fruitful; which centred on foreign policy, security in the sub-region and trade cooperation.

“I think that a lot of work has been done to make sure that the relations between us and Great Britain continue to be on an even keel and that the areas for greater trade cooperation and business cooperation; both sides are looking at that to see what can be done to improve.”

“At the end of the day, we are both concerned about what we can do to improve the lives of our various people, and that is the main consideration,” President Akufo-Addo said.

Mr. Johnson is on a two-nation West African tour that has taken him to The Gambia and now, Ghana.

He is scheduled to visit the Blue Skies factory later on Wednesday and also address the press later tonight at the British High Commission.

He will also meet business leaders and young entrepreneurs supported by the Department for International Development’s ENGINE project, and meet with “Rising Black Stars,” highlighting both countries’ extensive cultural ties.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He will meet President Nana Akufo-Addo during his visit to discuss key opportunities and challenges facing the country.

He is also expected to visit the award-winning Blue Skies company, meet business leaders and young entrepreneurs supported by the Department for International Development’s ENGINE project, and meet with “Rising Black Stars,” highlighting both countries’ extensive cultural ties.

Ahead of the visit, the Foreign Secretary said:”I’m delighted to be the first Foreign Secretary to visit Gambia this week and delighted to have a chance to meet the newly elected President Barrow and President Akufo-Addo of Ghana. Their elections highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa.”

“I am also very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth and we will ensure this happens in the coming months. The strength of our partnerships show that Global Britain is growing in influence and activity around the world.”

Boris Johnson is currently in The Gambia to meet President Barrow .

He will visit the UK-funded Medical Research Council and speak to Chevening scholars and employees and employers in the tourism industry – a huge employer during his visit to The Gambia.

This is the first recorded visit to The Gambia by a Foreign Secretary.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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