Germany rejects Trump call to ditch Iran 2015 nuclear pact

Deal has been unravelling ever since Trump withdrew US from agreement in 2018

BERLIN: Germany said on Friday it still wanted "to save" the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, rejecting US President Donald Trump's plea for Europeans to quit the hard-won pact.

"Our goal is still to save the agreement because we remain convinced that it's the right instrument to prevent Iran from possible nuclear armament," foreign ministry spokesperson Rainer Breul said in Berlin.

His comments echoed those by Britain and France, who have also stressed their continued commitment to the deal.

Trump on Wednesday pulled back from the brink of war with Iran, but said "the time had come" for fellow signatories to "break away from the remnants" of the nuclear accord.

"We want to use all the possibilities offered by the (deal) to move towards a diplomatic solution," Breul told reporters.

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He urged Tehran "to return its commitments" under the 2015 agreement struck with the US, Britain, Germany, France, Russia and China.

The deal has been unravelling ever since Trump withdrew the United States from the pact in 2018.

After the US reimposed sanctions on Iran, Tehran started breaching some aspects of the accord and on Sunday announced it no longer felt compelled to stick to any limits for making the enriched uranium needed for nuclear power.

The European signatories must decide in the coming days whether to take action against Tehran for reneging on its commitments which could lead to renewed UN sanctions.

France on Thursday said it remained "committed to the framework of the Vienna Iran nuclear accord".

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the deal remained "the best arrangement currently available".