End of Iran nuclear deal to harm Middle East peace, security: German FM

ADDIS ABABA - German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned on Tuesday end of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal would harm peace and security in the Middle East.

The Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is an international agreement on the nuclear program of Iran reached in Vienna, Austria on July 14, 2015 between Iran and China, France, UK, US, Russia, Germany and the EU.

It obliges Iran to limit its uranium enrichment activities in exchange for the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions by the US, EU and the UN Security Council.

Maas, speaking at a press conference organized at the AU headquarter in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, said the JCPOA is a good agreement that makes the Middle East region and beyond safe and secure.

His statement comes as the May 12 deadline approaches for the US to decide whether to leave or to stay in the deal.

US President Donald Trump has hinted he may leave the Iran nuclear deal if the US can't "renegotiate" a new Iran nuclear deal or amend the existing nuclear deal.

"The Iran nuclear agreement is a prerequisite for Iran abstaining from pursuing a nuclear program. We're engaged in dialogue with the US on whether further dialogue can be developed without fundamentally questioning the deal," said Maas.

"The information we have so far is there has been no breaches against the Iran nuclear deal but there would be further reviews. Leaving the JCPOA will harm the peace and security of the Middle East region," he further said.

Iran has already said if the US leaves the JCPOA, it would effectively doom the nuclear deal, heightening fears of ignition of major regional crisis in the Middle East region.