Iran Nuclear Accord: Russia, Germany hold talks on salvaging deal after US withdrawal

World
Europe

01:35

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russia's President Vladimir Putin have said they are united in trying to save the Iran nuclear deal after the US pulled out. The two leaders met for talks at the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Lucy Taylor reports from Moscow.

LUCY TAYLOR MOSCOW "Chancellor Merkel said saving the Iran nuclear deal was one area where Germany and Russia agree and that although the deal wasn't perfect, it was better than no deal."

She said she believes that Iran will also continue to adhere to the terms of the deal because it is in its national interest.

ANGELA MERKEL GERMAN CHANCELLOR "We Europeans are in contact with Iran to talk about the fact that Iran should stay in the agreement because this agreement provides security, monitoring, and transparency."

LUCY TAYLOR MOSCOW "The agreement requires Iran to limit its nuclear activities capacity and agree to regular inspections, in return for the lifting of economic sanctions."

But since President Trump withdrew the US from the deal and reimposed strict sanctions, it puts all the other signatories in a difficult situation - because of the risk that European, Russian and Chinese companies might now find themselves on the wrong side of US sanctions - potentially jeopardizing jobs or relationships with the US.

Both the EU and Russia have said this week that they will work on separate legislation to protect their companies from the effects of US sanctions but those laws are still in their early stages.

This is a topic that will likely to be picked up again next week when France's President Emmanuel Macron arrives for talks with President Putin. Lucy Taylor, CGTN, in Moscow.