Theresa May tells Donald Trump she is 'firmly committed' to Iran nuclear deal after US withdrawal

The Prime Minister and President spoke over the phone on Friday
PA Archive/PA Images
Martin Coulter12 May 2018
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Theresa May and Donald Trump have discussed the impact of America pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, Downing Street said.

The president sent shockwaves around the world when he announced US withdrawal from the Obama-era agreement.

A spokesman for Mrs May said the telephone talks covered a range of international issues, saying: "The Prime Minister reiterated the Government's position on the Iran nuclear deal, noting that we and our European partners remain firmly committed to ensuring the deal is upheld as the best way of preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

"The Prime Minister raised the potential impact of US sanctions on those firms which are currently conducting business in Iran. They agreed for talks to take place between our teams.

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"The Prime Minister began by congratulating the President on the safe return of three US citizens who had been held in prison in North Korea.

"The two leaders looked forward to the summit which will take place between President Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore.

"The PM said the UK would continue to work with the US to keep up the pressure on North Korea to denuclearise.

"The Prime Minister and the President condemned the Iranian rocket attacks against Israeli forces earlier this week and strongly supported Israel's right to defend itself against Iranian aggression.

"They agreed on the need for calm on all sides and on the importance of tackling Iran's destabilising activity in the region.

"The Prime Minister and the President looked forward to [his] visit to the UK in July."

Mr Trump had described the agreement as “decaying and rotting” and said he will reinstate the highest level of sanctions on the country as he revealed his decision on Tuesday.

said the US "will not be held hostage to nuclear blackmail" and will not allow "a regime that chants 'Death to America"' to get access to nuclear weapons.

State leaders around the world reacted with shock and disappointment at the announcement, with Mrs May expressing “regret and concern”.

Iran agreed to rein in its nuclear programme in a 2015 deal struck with the US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany.

Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) Tehran agreed to significantly cut its stores of centrifuges, enriched uranium and heavy-water, all key components for nuclear weapons.

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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