Merkel: nuclear deal with Iran is not perfect, but it’s better to stick to it

Investing.com – BERLIN (Reuters) – Staying in the framework of a nuclear deal with Iran, even after exiting the US, is the best way to remove international concerns about Tehran’s role in the region and its ballistic missile development program, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

“The question is whether you can agree on more, withdrawing from the agreement, or staying in it … we believe that it is more convenient to discuss the problem while remaining within the framework of the agreement,” Merkel said in the Bundestag on Wednesday.

The European powers promised to keep the nuclear deal this week after the US withdrew from it, although they admitted that they can hardly give Iran any guarantees.

The deal, concluded between Iran and six world powers, withdrew most of the international sanctions from Tehran in 2016 in exchange for the curtailment of its nuclear program under the strict control of the IAEA.

“This agreement is far from ideal, but Iran, according to all international nuclear agencies, fulfills all obligations contained in the agreement,” Merkel said.

Last week, US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the agreement, which he called the “worst deal”, and to restore the sanctions regime against Iran.

“Despite all the disagreements that we have to this day, transatlantic relations are and remain a paramount task,” Merkel told parliamentarians, “However, these relations should be able to overcome disagreements.”