British FM Boris Johnson speaks at a news conference, alongside French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian, German FM Sigmar Gabriel and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 11, 2018. Photo: Reuters / Francois Lenoir.

Britain, France, Germany and the European Union made a joint call to the United States to protect the Iran nuclear pact, saying Tehran had a right to benefit from the lifting of sanctions tied to it.

On the eve of a deadline for US President Donald Trump to decide whether to reimpose oil sanctions lifted under the deal, the foreign ministers of the three European powers and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini made their plea after their meeting in Brussels.

“The accord is essential and there is no alternative,” France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters. “We do not hide the other points of disagreement (with Iran) that exist.”