EU, South Korea Underline Importance of Iran Nuclear Deal

EU's Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha reiterated the need for deal during a meeting in Brussels on Friday.

"They acknowledged the deal's importance for the international nuclear non-proliferation (NPT) regime,” the EU reported on its official website.

The agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), terminated nuclear-related sanctions against Iran in return for a number of limits to the Iranian nuclear program.

The deal was reached between Iran, Russia, China, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

But the administration of US President Donald Trump, who took office a year after the deal began being implemented, has been opposed to the agreement. On October 13, he said he would not be certifying Iran's compliance with the deal under a domestic American law, a move that could potentially impact the deal’s standing.

But the rest of the parties to the deal have hailed it as a diplomatic triumph and said it should be sustained. So have the entire 28 members of the EU.

Separately, British Prime Minister Theresa May repeated London’s commitment to the JCPOA.

Speaking at a press conference following an EU leaders’ meeting in Brussels on Friday, May said, "We believe that this agreement is important to our common security interests."

French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke after the plenum, noting that the EU would continue to honor the agreement.

"We cooperate with the US so they are persuaded considering the necessity of the agreement,” he said.