World

Withdraw from Iran nuke deal, Pence tells EU

February 16, 2019
US Vice President Mike Pence delivers a speech during the 55th Munich Security Conference in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday. — AFP
US Vice President Mike Pence delivers a speech during the 55th Munich Security Conference in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday. — AFP

MUNICH — US Vice President Mike Pence pressed European countries on Saturday to withdraw from a nuclear deal between Iran and major powers.

“The time has come for our European partners to stand with us and with the Iranian people,” Pence told the Munich Security Conference.

“The time has come for our European partners to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.”

Pence also said that Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world.

Pence also vowed that the United States would “hunt down” the Daesh group even after pulling its troops out of Syria, where the terrorists are facing the loss of their final scrap of land.

“The United States will continue to work with all our allies to hunt down the remnants of ISIS (Daesh) wherever and whenever they rear their ugly heads,” Pence told the Munich Security Conference.

Daesh group fighters have been boxed in to a scrap of land in the battle for their last remaining territory in northeastern Syria and their final defeat is expected imminently. Once they are defeated, US forces are set to soon withdraw after President Donald Trump in December announced the pullout of around 2,000 troops.

Washington says it will maintain a presence in the region, with Vice-President Mike Pence pledging to carry on the fight.

However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Saturday that Washington’s plan to swiftly pull its soldiers out of Syria risks allowing Russia and Iran to boost their role in the region.

“Is it a good idea for the Americans to suddenly and quickly withdraw from Syria? Or will it once more strengthen the capacity of Iran and Russia to exert their influence?” Merkel said at the Munich Security Conference.

Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan on Friday pledged ongoing backing for the fight against Daesh.

Describing the results of Donald Trump’s presidency as “remarkable” and “extraordinary”, Pence told senior European and Asian officials the EU should follow the United States in quitting the Iran nuclear deal and recognizing the head of Venezuela’s congress, Juan Guaido, as the country’s president.

“America is stronger than ever before and America is leading on the world stage once again,” Pence told officials at the Munich Security Conference, listing what he described as US foreign policy successes from Afghanistan to North Korea. — Agencies


February 16, 2019
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