I hate bullies; but even more, I despise those who succumb to bullying. Now that bullying is America's official, default foreign policy, I only can hope that its intended victims have the courage to resist.
Iran, of course, has no choice but to resist: it is not about to "negotiate" regime change, and nothing less than that will satisfy the Tr*mp gang (which includes Bibi and MbS.) The courage will have to come from Europe, and how much courage European leaders can muster remains to be seen.
Despite the easing of sanctions under Obama, US investment in Iran was minimal following the nuclear agreement: US companies continued to be limited by other sanctions protocols, and benefits to the Iranian economy fell far short of what Rouhani and his moderates hoped to see. Europeans were less restrained, so the impact of US withdrawal from the deal depends on European willingness to go along. It still remains to be seen what secondary sanctions the Tr*mpistas decide to impost on European companies that remain in Iran.
While secondary sanctions against US "allies" would be economically damaging, Macron and Merkel might be willing to endure them for the political advantage that might entail. Anti-Americanism is a tried and true means of garnering nationalist support, so a "principled" stand against the Tr*mpians well might draw away supporters of the National Front in France and the AfD in Germany. Suing the US at the WTO would be a good start, but withdrawing their ambassadors to the US in protest would be a sure bet for solidifying voters behind them.
If any diplomatic intelligence remains in the Tr*mp administration, secondary sanctions against the Europeans will be minimal, and the denuclearization of Iran can continue. If the yahoos prevail, though, we only can hope Europe finds the courage to resist.
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