EU, Russia, China Rally behind Iran Deal Ahead of Trump Speech

The EU, Russia and China have called on the US to maintain its commitment to the Iranian nuclear deal, which President Donald Trump is expected to declare no longer in America’s interest.

“We believe this deal is important to ensuring the international nuclear nonproliferation regime and regional peace and stability. We hope all parties can continue to preserve and implement this deal,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Friday.

EU foreign policy director Federica Mogherini and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel held phone talks with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, saying Europe will respect its side of the deal as long as Tehran honors its obligations.

Both Mogherini and Gabriel acknowledged that Iran had fully lived up to its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the nuclear accord is called, the state news agency IRNA reported.

They also said Iran should be allowed to benefit from the economic dividends of the deal reached with the US, the UK, France, Russia, China and Germany under which sanctions were lifted against Tehran.

Gabriel said on Thursday Trump’s reported plans to “decertify” the nuclear deal was alienating Washington’s European allies and pushing them towards Russia and China.

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