Iran Nuclear Deal: European powers make last-ditch appeal to salvage 2015 accord

World
Europe

01:53

Germany, France and the United Kingdom are making a last-ditch appeal to save the Iran nuclear deal. This comes ahead of Trump's announcement on whether or not the US will remain in the agreement. Zhang He reports from Berlin.

The U.S. pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal would mean opening Pandora's box, and it could even mean war. This is the warning from French President Emmanuel Macron, one of Washington's closest European allies. Major powers across the continent are piling pressure on Trump, urging him to stay in the deal.

ZHANG HE BERLIN "Germany, like France and the UK, believes that the Iran nuclear deal is a sound agreement that makes the Middle East safer and more secure. However, U.S. President Donald Trump describes the deal as 'the worst ever'. This makes a clear division between the Europe and the U.S."

In a last-ditch appeal, the French and German foreign ministers held a joint news conference in Berlin, voicing their countries' determination to save the deal. They say the 2015 pact is the best way to avoid nuclear proliferation.

HEIKO MAAS GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER "We fear failure will lead to an escalation, we must avoid a return to the period before 2013. It is in nobody's interest."

The position of European powers is clear -- to stick with the deal regardless of if the US pulls out.

JEAN-YVES LE DRIAN FRENCH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS "For us, this agreement is respected, so we intend to stick to it whatever the American decision may be."

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is in Washington. And in an opinion piece for the New York Times, he warned Trump it would be a mistake to walk away from the nuclear agreement at this delicate juncture. Zhang He, CGTN, Berlin.