US-Iran Tensions: Trump frequently bashes Tehran over nuclear deal and its regional role

World
Europe

02:50

As we mentioned, the Trump administration has been a fierce critic of the Iran Nuclear Deal and how it affects the Middle East region. However, despite sharing some of Donald Trump's concerns, Washington's European allies are largely behind the deal. Natasha Hussein takes a look at their differences.

"One deal to rule them all" -- that appears to be Donald Trump's goal to tackle Iran's nuclear issue and its regional influence.

When meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron last week, Trump said "we might have a shot at a much bigger deal".

The US president has urged Europe to toughen up on the current accord -- a deal he called "insane" -- by addressing what will happen after it expires, as well as Tehran's ballistic missile tests.

It's not the first time he's lashed out at the agreement and the Islamic republic. At the UN General Assembly last year, he branded the Iranian government "a reckless regime".

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles and we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear programme. The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."

Macron, while admitting the nuclear agreement is not perfect, said there was no plan B.

EMMANUEL MACRON FRENCH PRESIDENT "As for Iran, our objective is clear: Iran should never possess any nuclear weapons. Not now, not in five years, not in ten years, never."

Macron's trip to the White House, treated as the first state visit of the Trump administration, was closely followed by that of Angela Merkel.

The German Chancellor also believes an imperfect deal is better than no deal at all.

ANGELA MERKEL GERMAN CHANCELLOR "It will not solve all the problems with Iran. It is one piece of the mosaic, one building block if you like, on which we can build up this structure and now we will see what sort of decisions our American partners make."

Decisions which could see Iran resume its nuclear activities.

The whole world will find out the fate of the deal in less than two weeks.