German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and British Prime Minister Theresa May meet in the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018.(Maurizio Gambarini/dpa via AP)
Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson both reiterated their continuous support for the Iran nuclear deal on Wednesday, following US President Trump’s withdrawal from the deal.
Germany, France and Britain will “do everything” to ensure that Iran remains in the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, Merkel vowed.
“We will remain committed to this agreement and will do everything to ensure that Iran complies with the deal,” the German Chancellor said, adding that Berlin had made the decision jointly with Paris and London.
Expressing regret for President Donald Trump’s decision to ditch the deal, Merkel acknowledged concerns over Iran’s ballistic missile program as well as its influence in Syria and Iraq.
“There are areas beyond the (nuclear) accord that we must talk about,” she said.
Nevertheless, she stressed that the European powers viewed the accord as an “important pillar that we should never call into question”.
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson spoke in British parliament on Wednesday, warning the United States against trying to undermine the Iran nuclear deal after pulling out of it and said Washington should “spell out” its plans.
“I urge the US to avoid taking any action that would hinder other parties from continuing to make the agreement work,” Johnson told parliament, adding that Britain would stay committed to the deal as it remained “vital” to its national security.
President Donald Trump signs a document reinstating sanctions against Iran, at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 8, 2018
SAUL LOEB (AFP)
“For as long as Iran abides by the agreement – and the IAEA has publicly reported its compliance,Iran’s compliance, nine times so far – then Britain will remain a party to the JCPOA. I urge Iran to respond to the US decision with restraint and continue to observe its commitments under the JCPOA,” Johnson said.
The British foreign secretary also raised a question as to how Trump proposes to achieve a solution to the Iranian nuclear threat now that he has withdrawn from the deal.
“Yesterday President Trump promised to “work with our allies to find a real, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear threat”. I have no difficulty whatever with that goal: the question is how the US proposes to achieve it?” Johnson asked.
AFP contributed to this report
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