Germany regrets Iran’s ultimatum on nuclear deal

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - Germany voiced regret on Wednesday over Iran’s decision to abandon parts of a landmark nuclear deal, amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

“The Federal Government takes note of this announcement with regret,” Steffen Seibert, the spokesman of Chancellor Angela Merkel, told a news conference in Berlin.

“Now we will have consultations with our E3 partners [France and the U.K.] about the details of this announcement and discuss what steps must be taken,” Seibert said.

He reiterated Germany’s commitment to the Iran nuclear deal and called on Tehran to fully abide by its commitments under the agreement.

"The Federal Government urges Iran to refrain from any aggressive step which can further escalate tensions in the region,” he stressed.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani criticized Germany, France and the U.K. on Wednesday for failing to take concrete steps to implement the nuclear agreement signed in 2015.

“Europeans and friends announced they will compensate for the U.S. pullout but they did take an action,” Rouhani said.

He set a 60-day deadline to world powers to address Iran’s concerns and take concrete steps for the implementation of the agreement.

He warned that Iran would terminate some of the obligations under the agreement if its demands are not met within 60 days.

In 2015, world powers agreed to lift economic sanctions imposed on Iran in return for Tehran agreeing to limit its nuclear activity to peaceful and civilian purposes.

The agreement, also known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed between Iran and major powers Russia, China, France, the U.K., and the U.S., plus Germany.

But last year, U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal, accusing Iran of cheating on the agreement, and recently intensified pressure on Tehran by re-imposing economic sanctions targeting the country’s energy and banking sectors.