10 May 2018•Update: 10 May 2018
By Sinan Uslu
ANKARA
Turkish president on Thursday said he does not view U.S. withdrawal from Iranian nuclear deal as the “right” decision, according to Turkish presidential sources.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was speaking with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani over the phone, said the sources on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.
Erdogan told Rouhani that Turkey supports the preservation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the sources said.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the landmark nuclear deal, which was signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 group of nations (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany).
Acting ahead of a May 12 deadline, Trump opted not to extend sanctions relief on Iran, re-imposing nuclear-related economic penalties on the Islamic republic.
The 2015 deal had placed unprecedented restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief.
Trump had roundly criticized the agreement in 2016 during his electoral campaign, calling it the "worst deal" he had ever seen.
Other members of the P5+1, for their part, say the agreement in its current form represents the best way to reign in Iran's nuclear program.
Trump’s move has sparked a range of reactions, with some countries welcoming it and others condemning it.
The Turkish and Iranian leaders also discussed improving bilateral economic relations, the sources said.
