Defying US, EU leaders commit to Iran nuclear deal - AP and Israel Hayom Staff

by AP and Israel Hayom Staff

EU leaders say 2015 agreement is a pillar of efforts to reduce global nuclear threat, warn that exiting deal could compromise efforts to get North Korea to negotiate on its nuclear program

France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Angela Merkel and 
U.S. President Donald Trump in the G-20 summit, July 8
Photo: AP

The leaders of the 28 members of the European Union are showing their support for the Iran nuclear agreement, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's opposition to it.

EU spokesman Preben Aaman tweeted that the EU leaders agreed at a summit Thursday to show their joint commitment to the international agreement curbing Iran's nuclear program.

The EU leaders called the 2015 deal a pillar of efforts to reduce the global nuclear threat. Some fear that walking away from the deal could compromise chances of encouraging North Korea to negotiate on its nuclear program.

Trump decertified the deal last Friday, angrily accusing Iran of violating it, and directed the U.S. Congress to make it more stringent.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has certified eight times that Iran was living up to its commitments.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met Thursday in Paris with IAEA Director Yukiya Amano. Following the meeting, Le Drian said the deal "remains valid despite the decision of the president of the United States not to certify its implementation."

Amano also met with French President Emmanuel Macron, who encouraged the IAEA to ensure strict adherence to the deal "in all its aspects."

AP and Israel Hayom Staff

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/10/20/defying-us-eu-leaders-commit-to-iran-nuclear-deal/

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