US president Donald Trump’s decision to pull the plug on the Iran nuclear deal is ‘bad news for Dutch security and for European security as a whole,’ Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok said in a short statement on Wednesday.

‘Now we need to get to the negotiating table as soon as possible, with both the EU and the Americans, to chart a new course and work towards a solution,’ he said. Iran will be high on the agenda at next week’s UN Security Council meeting, Blok pointed out.

‘The Iran agreement ensures that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons. It contributes to stability in the region and to the security of the whole of Europe,’ Blok said. While the agreement is ‘not perfect’ it is necessary, the minister said adding that ‘the US decision is a step backwards.’

The Netherlands will work with our partners to find a solution that safeguards our own security and that of the entire European Union,’ Blok said.