Michel says he spoke to Iran's Rouhani, EU backs nuclear deal

Preserving a space for diplomacy, underpinned by positive steps, is crucial at this stage," Michel tweeted. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this week demanded "action, not words" from the United States if it wanted to rejoin the deal, which curbed Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

European Council President Charles Michel said on Thursday that he had spoken to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and that the European Union backed full implementation of the 'JCPOA' nuclear deal agreed in 2015 between Iran and major world powers. "I spoke with President @HassanRouhani. The EU supports the full implementation of the #JCPOA. Preserving a space for diplomacy, underpinned by positive steps, is crucial at this stage," Michel tweeted.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this week demanded "action, not words" from the United States if it wanted to rejoin the deal, which curbed Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.