Merkel sticks with Iran nuclear deal

Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel told Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday she shared his concern over Iran but continued to support the beleaguered nuclear deal.

The Israeli prime minister is on a three-day tour of Europe, aiming to persuade the leaders of Germany, France and the UK to leave the landmark accord and back his push for tougher measures against Tehran.

He warned of the dramatic consequences of failing to curb an emboldened Iran.

‘‘Iran is trying to conquer the Middle East. Iran, which is Shia, wants to conduct a military campaign in Syria, which is largely Sunni. This will inflame another religious war. The consequences would be more refugees, and you know where they will come.’’

Israel fears that as the Syrian civil war winds down, Iran, whose forces and Shia proxies have backed President Bashar alAssad, will focus on Israel.

Merkel said Germany was worried by Iran’s behaviour but said Berlin intended to remain in the deal ‘‘although we have disagreements about the effectiveness of the agreement’’.

Netanyahu is to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May, both of whom have indicated they plan to honour the accord.

The diplomatic flurry follows President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the US out of the 2015 deal, which traded sanction relief on Iran for curbs on its nuclear programme. – Telegraph Group