Merkel Says Germany Remains Committed to Iran Deal
Local Editor
German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that her country will stay in the nuclear deal with Iran following the US decision to pull out.
"As for the Iran deal, it is far from ideal but other options are even less stable," Merkel admitted. "That is why we will continue to respect this agreement," she told reporters in Beijing on Thursday after meeting China's Premier Li Keqiang.
Merkel, however, emphasized some EU businesses will be forced to wind down operations in Iran to avoid US sanctions.
"Sanctions will likely lead some European companies to pull out of Iran," she told reporters.
Merkel, on her China visit, said it would be up to Beijing to fill in the trade vacuum after the United States announced historic, tough sanctions on Tehran over its alleged violation of a 2015 nuclear deal.
Earlier on Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said after meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, that both countries "are pursuing two entirely separate paths."
US President Donald Trump earlier this month said his country would quit the agreement with Iran in a bid to negotiate a wider pact.
The European Union, China and Russia vowed to abide by the deal, which saw Iran wind down its nuclear activities in return for sanctions easing.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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