EU: Trump's policies to meet 'united European approach'

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - European Council President Donald Tusk on Tuesday evening said U.S. President Donald Trump's policies "will meet a united European approach" in reaction to the latters announcement of a U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.

Sharing a post on Twitter, Tusk said: "Policies of @realDonaldTrump on #IranDeal and trade will meet a united European approach. EU leaders will tackle both issues at the summit in Sofia next week."

Bucking pressure from the U.S.'s closest European allies, President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. Tuesday from its participation in the landmark nuclear agreement world powers struck with Iran in 2015.

Trump opted not to extend sanctions relief on Iran ahead of a May 12 deadline, vowing instead to re-impose nuclear-related economic penalties.

“We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanction," Trump said while announcing his decision from the White House. "Any nation that helps Iran in its quest for nuclear weapons could also be strongly sanctioned by the United States."

The 2015 nuclear agreement placed unprecedented restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from international sanctions, but Trump has consistently railed against it since he began his bid for America's highest office, repeatedly claiming it is the "worst deal" he has ever seen.

All of the U.S.'s negotiating partners -- the U.K., France, Germany, Russia, China and the EU -- had agreed that maintaining the accord was the best way to reign in Iran's program.