German foreign minister says US President Donald Trump’s reported plans to “decertify” the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is alienating Washington’s European allies, pushing them towards Russia and China.
Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, a Social Democrat, told the RND German newspaper group on Thursday.
“It’s imperative that Europe sticks together on this issue,” Gabriel said,adding, “We also have to tell the Americans that their behavior on the Iran issue will drive us Europeans into a common position with Russia and China against the USA.”
Gabriel said that Washington was treating the JCPOA “like a football” and this could lead to serious consequences like drawing a wedge between Europe and the US.
Noting that only the US, Russia and China could avert a new nuclear arms race, Gabriel said, “It must be in our interest to press for more trust.”
The German foreign minister had urged the White House on Monday not to jeopardize the JCPOA, warning that such a move would undermine the Middle East’s stability.
The comments came amid speculation that Trump was going to unveil a broad strategy on confronting Iran on Friday, in part by refusing to certify Tehran's commitment to the nuclear deal with the P5+1 group of nations—the US, the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany.
Under the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Islamic Republic agreed to put certain restrictions on its peaceful nuclear program in exchange for the removal of all nuclear-related sanctions.