BERLIN 6 Jan (ANA) - Donald Trump's threat of sanctions on Iraq was "not very helpful", Germany's foreign minister said on Monday.

 

The United States president had warned Baghdad could be hit by sanctions "like they've never seen before" if US forces were forced to leave.

 

"I don't think it works to convince Iraq with threats, but with arguments," Heiko Maas told Deutschlandfunk public radio.

 

Friday's targeted killing of Qassem Soleimani, one of Iran's leading military figures, in a US air strike in Iraq, has led the country's parliament to urge the removal of all foreign troops - a move aimed at the estimated 5,000 US troops in Iraq as part of the international anti-ISIL (ISIS) coalition.

 

Maas said Germany, the United Kingdom and France would discuss the Iran nuclear deal on Monday and would react this week to Tehran's recent announcements.

 

Iran said on Sunday it would abandon limitations on enriching uranium, taking a further step back from commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers.

 

The "E3" group of countries - France, Britain and Germany - have all called on Iran to refrain from any retaliation to the US killing one of its top military commanders, and urged Tehran to return to the terms of the JCPOA 2015 nuclear deal agreed with world powers - a landmark diplomatic agreement from which Trump unilaterally withdrew the US in 2018.

 

The three countries also highlighted the importance of de-escalating tensions in Iraq and Iran, and reaffirmed their determination to fight ISIL.

 

"We reaffirm our commitment to continuing the fight against Islamic State, which remains a priority. It is essential that we keep the coalition, in this regard. We call on the Iraqi authorities to continue to supply the necessary support to the coalition," the E3 group said in a statement on Monday.

 

"We are ready to continue talks with all parties in order to contribute to de-escalating tensions and re-establishing stability in the region," added the E3 group.

 

There are grave fears for the future of the nuclear deal.

 

"We will definitely talk to Iran again. What has been announced is, however, not consistent with the agreement," Maas said.

 

"[The situation] has not got easier, and this could be the first step to the end of this agreement, which would be a big loss so we will weigh this up very, very responsibly now."(ANA)

FA/ANA/6 January 2020----------