Germany regrets Iran’s ultimatum on nuclear deal

By Ayhan Simsek </p> <p>BERLIN (AA) – Germany voiced regret on Wednesday over Iran’s decision to abandon parts of a landmark nuclear deal, amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran. </p> <p>“The Federal Government takes note of this announcement with regret,” Steffen Seibert, the spokesman of Chancellor Angela Merkel, told a news conference in Berlin. </p> <p>“Now we will have consultations with our E3 partners [France and the U.K.] about the details of this announcement and discuss what steps must be taken,” Seibert said. </p> <p>He reiterated Germany’s commitment to the Iran nuclear deal and called on Tehran to fully abide by its commitments under the agreement. </p> <p>&quot;The Federal Government urges Iran to refrain from any aggressive step which can further escalate tensions in the region,” he stressed. </p> <p>Iran's President Hassan Rouhani criticized Germany, France and the U.K. on Wednesday for failing to take concrete steps to implement the nuclear agreement signed in 2015. </p> <p>“Europeans and friends announced they will compensate for the U.S. pullout but they did take an action,” Rouhani said. </p> <p>He set a 60-day deadline to world powers to address Iran’s concerns and take concrete steps for the implementation of the agreement. </p> <p>He warned that Iran would terminate some of the obligations under the agreement if its demands are not met within 60 days.</p> <p>In 2015, world powers agreed to lift economic sanctions imposed on Iran in return for Tehran agreeing to limit its nuclear activity to peaceful and civilian purposes.</p> <p>The agreement, also known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed between Iran and major powers Russia, China, France, the U.K., and the U.S., plus Germany. </p> <p>But last year, U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal, accusing Iran of cheating on the agreement, and recently intensified pressure on Tehran by re-imposing economic sanctions targeting the country’s energy and banking sectors.