Is a Coalition Against Iran Forming as France and Germany Seem to Back Trump?

“If Iran were behind this attack, nothing would have been left of this refinery,” the Iranian foreign minister says, after the United States’ accusing Iran of the attacks on the Saudi oil facilities being backed by Britain, France and Germany on Monday.

At Saudi Arabia’s request, further investigation on the matter will be conducted, with the upcoming annual meeting at the U.N. General Assembly, in which it is expected that the leaders of the aforementioned European countries, as well as Iran, will participate in a meeting and discussion on a diplomatic solution to de-escalate tensions.

“It would be stupid for Iran to engage in such activity,” Iran’s foreign minister said, a self-explanatory statement, considering the timing – days before President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to the United Nations, meeting in the middle of New York City.

France willing to be a mediator between Iran and the U.S. - President Emmanuel Macron said he will work to foster “conditions for discussion” between Trump and Rouhani, which was ruled out by Zarif, who said that Trump “closed the door to negotiations” with the latest sanctions on Iran.

“I know that President Trump did not want to do that. I know he must have been misinformed,” Zarif said on Monday.

A meeting Wednesday with ministers of the five remaining participants in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal – Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany is due, as Johnson, the U.K. prime minister, has suggested to President Trump to strike a new deal with Iran, adding that there should be a new agreement, in the long term - “whatever your objections with the old nuclear deal with Iran, it’s time now to move forward and do a new deal.” When asked about the prospect of a new deal, President Trump expressed his respect for Johnson, saying he believes that expiration for the current agreement is too soon.

Iran’s Rouhani said on state television that Tehran will invite Persian Gulf nations to join a coalition led by Iran “to guarantee the region’s security” - a plan taking into consideration not only security, but economic cooperation and “long-term” peace, with details expected to be revealed at the United Nations.

Iran’s Zarif said that the new Hormuz Peace Initiative – HOPE – would have two principles: nonaggression and noninterference with the motto being “you can gain security relying on your own people and working with your neighbors.”