Destroying Iran deal would be disastrous, Merkel warns Netanyahu

In conversation with Netanyahu, Merkel reportedly warned the Israeli leader of serious repercussions should the US leave the Iran nuclear deal.

By: World Israel News Staff

A US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement would have devastating consequences, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a recent phone conversation, Channel 10 reported.

In January, at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Netanyahu held closed-door talks with many world leaders, and the Iranian threat topped his agenda. US President Donald Trump also called on other countries to join his efforts to “block Iran’s path to nuclear weapons.”

Trump’s firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week as well as his choice of CIA director Mike Pompeo to replace him is further indication that the US may pull out of the Iran deal. Indeed, Trump acknowledged that the reason behind Tillerson’s dismissal was his support for the agreement. Pompeo, on the other hand, has spoken out against the deal as a congressman as well as during his service as CIA chief.

Netanyahu called Merkel on Tuesday to congratulate her on her reelection as chancellor. During the conversation, according to Channel 10, Merkel warned that if Trump leaves the Iran deal, the US and Israel would clash with its Western allies. “Do you want that to happen?” she asked.

While Merkel also warned that a collapse of the deal would lead to war in the Middle East, Netanyahu reportedly remained unconvinced, insisting that the biggest danger would be a nuclear Iran.