UN chief says Trump scrapping Iran nuclear deal risks war: 'I see a very dangerous position'

Secretary-general fears escalation as US considers withdrawing from 2015 agreement on atomic programme

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said Donald Trump risks war by scrapping the Iran nuclear deal, warning the region is in a “very dangerous position”.

Mr Guterres stressed the importance he held in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed in 2015 to curtail the Iranian atomic weapons programme.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the former Portuguese prime minister warned the current agreement should not be torn up without a “good alternative”.

Asked whether the Iran situation “would be the next war”, Mr Guterres said: “I think the risks are there, I think we need to do everything to avoid those risks.

“I believe the JCPOA was an important diplomatic victory and I think it would be important to preserve it.

“But I also believe that there are areas in which it will be very important to have a meaningful dialogue because I see the region in a very dangerous position.

“I understand the concerns of some countries in relation to the Iranian influence in other countries in the region, so I think we should separate things.”

‘I think the risks are there,’ said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (Getty)

Mr Trump is reportedly considering withdrawing the US from the agreement, in which Iran pledged to curb its nuclear programme in return for a relaxation of sanctions.

A decision by the US president to scrap the deal could trigger a backlash from Tehran, either in the form of a resumption of its atomic weapons projects or the “punishment” of American allies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, diplomats have warned.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed what he claimed was documentary evidence that Iran had not disclosed part of its nuclear arms programme as required under the JCPOA.

UN inspectors say Iran has complied with the deal, while Tehran itself has denied the claims, accusing Israel of attempting to stir up tensions.

Mr Guterres said the Iran deal was an “important achievement”, which needed to be preserved, a sentiment echoed by European allies the UK, France and Germany.

“I think that this agreement is an important achievement; if one day there is a better agreement to replace it, that’s fine,” he added.

“But we should not scrap it unless we have a good alternative.”

Additional reporting by Reuters