A top European Union official is urging Iran’s president to avoid “irreversible acts” potentially fatal to the Iran nuclear deal that is aimed at preventing the country from developing nuclear weapons.

European Council president Charles Michel speaks with President Hassan Rouhani ahead of a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers Friday to assess the rising tensions between the US and Iran.

According to a European Council statement, Rouhani has told Michel his country wants to continue a “close cooperation” with the EU.

Just spoke with @HassanRouhani about recent developments. #JCPOA remains crucial for global security. I called #Iran not to pose irreversible acts. #EU has its own interests and its vision & will enforce its role on an international level. Readout: https://t.co/DoRw3azKZ3 pic.twitter.com/9Wv1qlZSzj — Charles Michel (@eucopresident) January 9, 2020

Iran struck the nuclear deal in 2015 with the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China but US President Donald Trump decided to unilaterally abandon the agreement in 2018, triggering sanctions that have badly hurt Iran’s economy.

After the US killed Iran’s top general last week, Tehran announced it would no longer respect limits on how many centrifuges it can use to enrich uranium.

— AP