European leaders react to Trump announcement of US withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal
The U.S. decision to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday drew criticism from European countries.
European Council President Donald Tusk on Tuesday evening said U.S. President Donald Trump's policies "will meet a united European approach" in reaction to the latter's announcement of a U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.
Sharing a post on Twitter, Tusk said: "Policies of @realDonaldTrump on #IranDeal and trade will meet a united European approach. EU leaders will tackle both issues at the summit in Sofia next week."
EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini also reacted to the announcement, saying that the bloc "regrets" Trump's statements on the nuclear deal with Iran.
"Should the US reconsider this position, we would welcome it," Mogherini said. "The United States remain our closest partner and friend, and we will continue to work together on many other issues."
Mogherini added that the nuclear deal "is not a bilateral agreement and it is not in the hands of any single country to terminate it unilaterally."
"As long as Iran continues to implement its nuclear-related commitments, as it is doing so far, the EU will remain committed to the continued full and effective implementation of the nuclear deal," she continued to say.
Bucking pressure from the U.S.'s closest European allies, President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. Tuesday from its participation in the landmark nuclear agreement world powers struck with Iran in 2015.
Trump opted not to extend sanctions relief on Iran ahead of a May 12 deadline, vowing instead to re-impose nuclear-related economic penalties.
“We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanction," Trump said while announcing his decision from the White House. "Any nation that helps Iran in its quest for nuclear weapons could also be strongly sanctioned by the United States."
France, U.K. and Germany regret Trump's withdrawal decision from Iran nuclear deal, said French President Emmanuel Macron on his social media account, following Trump's announcement.
“The nuclear non-proliferation regime is at stake,” he added.
The U.K. said in a statement issued by the Prime Ministry that U.K.'s Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Macron had a phone call in the evening.
"Together, we emphasise our continuing commitment to the JCPoA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]. This agreement remains important for our shared security," it said.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also shared a post on his Twitter account saying: "Deeply regret US decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. UK remains strongly committed to the JCPoA, and will work with E3 partners and the other parties to the deal to maintain it. Await more detail on US plan."
The 2015 nuclear agreement placed unprecedented restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from international sanctions, but Trump has consistently railed against it since he began his bid for America's highest office, repeatedly claiming it is the "worst deal" he has ever seen.
All of the U.S.'s negotiating partners -- the U.K., France, Germany, Russia, China and the EU -- had agreed that maintaining the accord was the best way to reign in Iran's program.
