EU ministers support Iran deal, fear IS resurgence

European foreign affairs ministers reiterated ir support for nuclear deal brokered with Iran and expressed concerns Friday that escalating tensions in region could le to a resurgence of Islamic State’s activities.

EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell called urgent meeting in Brussels after U.S. killing of Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone attack in Iraq on Jan. 3. Tehran responded earlier this week with missile strikes at U.S. bases and anunced it would longer respect limits set under 2015 nuclear deal on how many centrifuges it can use to enrich uranium.

“We need to understand that fight against Daesh is t over,” said NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, who attended meeting in EU capital and referred to an alternative name for Islamic State group.

“We have me ermous progress but Daesh can return.”

In an attempt to avoid an escalation between Iran and United States, EU leers have intensified diplomatic activities, trying to keep alive nuclear deal while making sure U.S.-led anti-IS coalition continues to operate in Iraq. In wake of killing of Soleimani, Iraq’s parliament called for withdrawal of all foreign troops from country.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas reiterated Germany’s position that fight against IS in Iraq needs to continue.

“I can’t rule out that, if anti-IS coalition leaves Iraq n IS will regenerate so much that it can carry out attacks in Europe again,” said Maas, speaking to German brocaster n-tv.

And Denmark;s foreign affairs minister, Jeppe Kofod, said IS is threat for Europe.”

Despite calls from U.S. President Donald Trump to break away from nuclear deal, European Union remains committed to treaty.

Iran struck deal in 2015 with United States, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Russia and China. It has, however, been damd by Trump’s decision to unilaterally abandon it in 2018 and to impose sanctions that have hurt Iran’s ecomy.

Iran has grually rolled back its commitment to accord and recent escalation of tensions between Iran and U.S. has dealt furr blows to pact.

“We are of opinion that this agreement makes sense because it holds Iran to t developing nuclear weapons, and so we want this agreement to have a future,” Maas said upon arrival at meeting. “But of course it only has a future if it is complied with, and we expect that from Iran.”

Speaking on French rio RTL ahe of meeting, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian continued to insist accord “is t de” and said it’s essential to salv it. Blaming U.S. decision to withdraw, Le Drian said Iran could get access to atomic weapons within “one or two years” if deal continues to lose its substance.

In a phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also reaffirmed his support for deal.

Borrell has invited Iranian Foreign Minister Jav Zarif to Brussels for talks, but a date for his visit has yet to be set.

Im Source: AP