The EU's foreign policy chief warned Monday there was "no alternative" to the Iran nuclear deal, after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed unprecedented sanctions against Tehran following Washington's withdrawal from the pact.

Pompeo -- a longtime Iran hawk and fierce opponent of the 2015 agreement -- earlier outlined an aggressive series of "painful" measures designed to hurt Tehran, in his first key address since moving to the State Department from the CIA in April.

"Secretary Pompeo's speech has not demonstrated how walking away from the JCPOA (nuclear deal) has made or will make the region safer from the threat of nuclear proliferation or how it puts us in a better position to influence Iran's conduct in areas outside the scope of JCPOA," the European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said.

In a statement, she stressed "there is no alternative" to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the deal is officially known.

US President Donald Trump sparked an international outcry earlier this month when he announced his country would pull out of the landmark accord struck in July 2015 between Tehran and major world powers.

His move came despite the fact that the UN's nuclear watchdog, in charge of monitoring Iran's compliance with the deal, has confirmed that Tehran has so far abided by the terms.

Trump wants Brussels and others to support his hardline strategy and push for a fresh agreement.

"Iran will never again have carte blanche to dominate the Middle East," Pompeo said, outlining 12 tough conditions from Washington for any "new deal" with Tehran.

But Mogherini called on the US to keep its commitments as part of the agreement signed under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama.

"The JCPOA is the result of more than a decade of complex and delicate negotiations, based on dual track approach and therefore the best possible outcome, striking the right balance," Mogherini said.

"This deal belongs to the international community, having been endorsed by the United Nations Security Council. The international community expects all sides to keep the commitments they made more than two years ago."

She reiterated that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had confirmed already 10 times that Iran has implemented "all its nuclear related commitments" under the agreement.

The re-establishment of the US punitive measures will likely force European companies to choose between investing in Iran or trading with the United States.

The EU has been trying to persuade Iran to stay in the 2015 agreement, even without Washington's participation.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, attending the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Buenos Aires, said he was not surprised by Pompeo's critique of the Iran deal, before adding: "We do not see at this time a better alternative."

"We believe that without this agreement, we would take the risk that Iran resumes its nuclear program," he said.

Maas said he will travel to Washington to talk with Pompeo this week.

Netanyahu hails US policy on Iran, calls on world to back
Jerusalem (AFP) May 21, 2018 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday hailed the United States's policy on Iran and urged the rest of the world to follow suit.

"The US policy is correct. Iran is spreading aggressively throughout the Middle East. It aspires to achieve nuclear weapons by various means," Netanyahu said as he met Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes in Jerusalem.

"We call on the entire international community to join this American position," Netanyahu added.

He was speaking after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday warned Iran would be hit with the "strongest sanctions in history".

Pompeo also cautioned European firms against continuing to do business in Tehran, toughening up the US policy line after its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear pact this month despite intense diplomatic efforts by Washington's European allies.

The deal was also signed by Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

"Whoever wants to halt Iran's aggression and whoever wants to ensure security, and whoever wants to advance peace must oppose Iran and support the American position. This is what Israel is doing," Netanyahu said.

A staunch opponent of the Iran nuclear deal, Netanyahu again showered US President Donald Trump with praise for pulling out of the deal on May 8.

"President Trump has taken a firm position, which we welcome, against Iran. It was echoed by him and today by the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, very strong position: No enrichment, tough sanctions and Iran should get out of Syria," he said.

"We believe this is the right policy. We believe it's the only policy that could ultimately guarantee the security of the Middle East and peace in our region," Netanyahu added.

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Iran's Zarif says EU meetings must be turned into action
Tehran (AFP) May 16, 2018
Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that meetings with EU leaders on salvaging the nuclear deal sent a strong political message but must now be turned into action. "If the JCPOA (nuclear deal) is supposed to continue, it was a good start and it has sent an important political message, but this is not the end of the work," Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters on his flight back to Tehran, according to state news agency IRNA. "From next week, intensive expert meetings will start in Europe. They ... read more