Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has led a barrage of condemnation that has greeted US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015 curbed Iran’s nuclear activities following the lifting of sanctions imposed by the UN, US and the EU.
But on Tuesday, President Trump announced his country’s withdrawal from the deal, calling it “an embarrassment” to him “as a citizen”.
Mr Annan, who is the Chair of The Elders, was not happy with the decision by the US President.
“I deeply regret President Trump’s decision to withdraw, and urge all other signatories to renew their commitment to the deal and avoid a broader escalation of tensions across the Middle East,” he stated on Tuesday.
He acknowledged the coming into force of JCPOA as a “hard-won diplomatic achievement and proof of what robust negotiations on the part of all those involved can achieve”.
Immediate past UN boss, Ban Ki-moon, expressed worry about the latest decision by Mr Trump, underscoring the collective power of the UN Security Council and not a single country’s.
“I am very worried about the risks of a new nuclear arms race, this time in the Middle East, as well as the negative implications for ongoing negotiations on North Korean nuclear issues.
“To prevent that frightening prospect, everyone must do what they can to keep the JCPOA alive and well.
“The UN Security Council ratified the agreement unanimously; no single country has the right to declare it dead.”
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana