Biden discusses nuclear concerns with European leaders
The global leaders discussed the Biden administration's efforts to renegotiate the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran
President Joe Biden on Sunday spoke to the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom about concerns involving nuclear issues, including Iran's nuclear program and the situation at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant amid Russia's invasion.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed with Biden that they would continue supporting Ukraine's fight against Russia, which has been going on for nearly six months.
The leaders also "discussed the situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, including the need to avoid military operations near the plant and the importance of an [United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency] visit as soon as feasible to ascertain the state of safety systems," according to a White House statement.
The U.N. energy agency has been calling for peace for months at the Zaporizhzhya plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe. The intergovernmental nuclear agency has been unable to visit Zaporizhzhya since fighting broke out. Russia has controlled the plant since March but it is operated by Ukrainian staff.
The global leaders also discussed ongoing negotions with Iran to revive the Obama-era nuclear deal along with "joint efforts to deter and constrain Iran’s destabilizing regional activities," the White House stated.
The Biden administration is still attempting to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran despite the Islamic Republic's alleged assassination efforts on American citizens, including former National Security Advisor John Bolton.