Donald Trump has sent the
European Union into a panic with his decision to pull the US from the
Iran nuclear deal and warning of a “nuclear arms race” in the Middle East.
Top EU diplomat Federicia Mogherini expressed her concerns about Mr Trump’s decision to remove the US from the Iran nuclear deal as she addressed the media in Rome.
Responding to the US President’s actions, the EU’s High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy urged the international community to continue its backing for the Iran agreement.
The Iran nuclear deal was struck between Tehran and six world powers in exchange for eased
sanctions on the Middle Eastern state in return for limiting its nuclear programme to prevent an atomic weapon being built.
Agreed in 2015, Iran signed the long-term deal with the US,
UK,
France,
China,
Russia and
Germany.
Previous UN, US and EU sanctions designed to put a halt to any Iranian uranium enrichment programme crippled the country’s economy, costing more than £118bn in oil revenue from 2012 to 2016.
However, Mr Trump branded the deal “horrible, one-sided”, insisting it “didn’t bring peace and never will”.
The American informed his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron he was about to pull the US from the agreement before making a formal announcement.
Mr Trump said: “I am announcing today that the
United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.
“In in a few moments, I will sign a presidential memorandum to begin reinstating US nuclear sanctions on the Iranian regime.
“We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanctions.”
His announcement created a sense of urgency from the Brussels leader in charge of delivering a response, despite not being expected to discuss the topic until later in the week.
Speaking in Rome, Ms Mogherini said: “I am particularly worried by the announcement tonight of new sanctions.”
She said the “European Union is determined to preserve” the 2015 agreement, adding: “Together with the rest of the international community we will preserve this nuclear deal.”
Ms Mogherini also sent a warning to Mr Trump in Washington, insisting it is not for one nation to dismantle the agreement.
She said: “The United States remain our closest partner and friend, and we will continue to work together on many other issues.
“As we have always said, the nuclear deal is not a bilateral agreement and it is not in the hands of any single country to terminate it unilaterally.”
European Council President Donald Tusk urged European solidarity in order to deal with Mr Trump’s decision.
Mr Tusk said: “Policies of Donald Trump on
Iran Deal and trade will meet a united European approach.
“EU leaders will tackle both issues at the summit in Sofia next week.”
Influential Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt said: "Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran deal is deeply worrying and trashes over a decade of diplomatic work aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons across the Middle East.
“The EU must now show political leadership and work with others to preserve the deal.”