Austria Urges EU to Counter Trump Over JCPOA

In an interview with the German newspaper Welt, Van der Bellen said Trump’s moves have gone “too far”, urging the Europeans not to dance to Trump’s tune.

When asked about “the headache” that the US president gives the EU, the Austrian politician, who was called the “conscience of Austria” by the interviewer, lashed out at Trump for leaving the 2015 nuclear deal and putting pressure on European businesses.

“US President Trump has pulled out from Iran's nuclear deal, which Washington had negotiated and coordinated for years, with no reason and subsequently banned European companies from doing business with Iran, threatening with grave sanctions. I think that this goes too far. The Europeans do not have to dance when Trump whistles. This also applies to other points of discord”, Van der Bellen said.