Theresa May urges Donald Trump not to scrap Iran nuclear deal
2 min read
Theresa May last night urged Donald Trump not to pull out of the landmark nuclear deal with Iran, because it is "vitally important for regional security".
In a phone call with the US President, the Prime Minister insisted the deal would be “carefully monitored and properly enforced” in a bid to get him to change his mind.
President Trump has been a long-standing critic of the deal, in which the country vowed to give up its nuclear weapons programmes in return for the lifting of economic sanctions.
However last month, he told officials at the United Nations General Assembly that the deal amounted to "an embarrassment to the United States".
The move could be seen as a major blow to British diplomatic efforts, undermining the progress made by the UK, supported by France and Germany.
Joining the calls for Mr Trump to think again, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the “UK supports the deal and stresses the importance of all parties continuing to uphold their commitments” following a call with US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.
He said: “The nuclear deal was a crucial agreement that neutralised its nuclear threat. The UK supports the deal and stresses the importance of all parties continuing to uphold their commitments.
“We have made no bones about our deep concern at Iran’s destabilising regional activity, including its ballistic missile programme, but I remain steadfast in my view that the nuclear deal was an historic achievement that has undoubtedly made the world a safer place.
“It was the culmination of 13 years of painstaking diplomacy and has increased security, both in the region and in the UK. It is these security implications that we continue to encourage the US to consider.”
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