UN chief backs EU's effort to rescue Iran nuclear deal

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday backed the European Union's (EU) endeavour to rescue the landmark Iran nuclear deal.

While attending a conference with European Commision President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels, Guterres said, "We fully support the efforts the European Union is making in order to rescue the JCPOA," as quoted by Xinhua.

It is necessary to preserve two things Guterres added, firstly, the multilateral governance institutions and secondly, the rule of law in international relations.

He also vowed that the UN would lend assistance to the EU to create conditions for a world which is peaceful and secured.

Juncker said the EU wants to keep the Iran deal alive to maintain peace in the region, and also the whole world.

On May 8, President Trump announced the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or the Iran nuclear deal which limited the country's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

Calling the accord as an "embarrassment" that was "defective at its core", he also warned of severe consequences if Iran resumes its nuclear programme.

The Iran nuclear deal was signed between six countries in 2015 - Iran, US, Britain, Germany, Russia, France and China for lifting economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limitations to the country's nuclear programme.

As per International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Iran has so far followed all the conditions established under the deal.