European Union leaders agreed on a “united EU approach” to keeping the Iran nuclear deal alive after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the pact, a European source said after talks in Bulgaria.
The 28 EU leaders also backed a plan for dealing with trade tariffs that Trump is imposing on European metals, saying that the “EU will not negotiate with a gun at its head”, the source told AFP.
“The EU will continue fighting for a rules-based international system despite recent decisions on climate change, tariffs and Iran,” the source said after the leaders met over dinner in Sofia.
Their show of unity comes after EU president Donald Tusk lashed out at Trump, saying that “looking at the latest decisions of President Trump, someone could even think with friends like that who needs enemies.”
On Iran, the leaders expressed backing for a plan including “EU support for
JCPOA, as long as Iran respects the deal,” the source said, referring to the deal’s formal name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.