Theresa May defies Donald Trump by backing Iran nuclear agreement President called the ‘worst deal ever’
PM confirmed to Israel’s leader Benjamin Netanyahu the UK was committed to deal dubbed an ‘embarrassment’
THERESA May has defied Donald Trump on Iran by backing the nuclear agreement the President called the “worst deal ever”.
The Prime Minister confirmed in a phone call to Israel’s leader Benjamin Netanyahu this morning that the UK was “committed” to the deal.
Mr Trump has dubbed the accord, signed by his predecessor Barack Obama, an “embarrassment” amid threats to de-certify it.
But Mrs May has put herself at odds with the White House by saying she “believe it is vitally important for regional security” that it stays in place.
The landmark agreement capped Iran's uranium enrichment levels in return for the lifting of international sanctions.
And since it was signed in 2015 the United Nations watchdog tasked with monitoring it has certified the country is following the rules and dismantling its nuclear program.
Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani said if the United States violated the deal then “the whole world will condemn America” and “will not condemn Iran”.
And Republican Senator Bob Corker warned Mr Trump risks setting the nation “on the path to World War Three” by threatening to pull out of the accords.
This morning Number 10 revealed Mrs May and Mr Netanyahu had discussed the situation on a phone call today.
A statement said: “They discussed Iran, with the Prime Minister noting the importance of the nuclear deal with Iran which has neutralised the possibility of the Iranians acquiring nuclear weapons for more than a decade.
“The Prime Minister said the UK remains firmly committed to the deal and that we believe it is vitally important for regional security.”
It added: “The Prime Minister said it was important that the deal is carefully monitored and properly enforced, and that both sides deliver on their commitments.
“They agreed that the international community needed to be clear-eyed about the threat that Iran poses to the Gulf and the wider Middle East, and that the international community should continue working together to push back against Iran’s destabilising regional activity.”
The readout from the call also revealed: “They agreed that security cooperation between the UK and Israel was very strong and would continue, particularly on counter-terrorism where we faced shared challenges.”
And the spokesman said the two prime ministers agreed both nations wanted strong post-Brexit trade links.
They added: "They also agreed our bilateral trade relationship would continue to go from strength to strength, noting the UK-Israel trade working group had already met and discussions on how to ensure the freest possible post-Brexit trading relationship had been constructive."
