Iran deal ´not sufficient´ to curb nuke program: Merkel

WASHINGTON: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, standing alongside President Donald Trump at the White House, said Friday that the existing international accord on Iran is not enough to curb the Islamic republic´s nuclear ambitions.

The so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed by Tehran and six world powers including Germany and the United States, is "a first step that has contributed to slowing down their activities in this particular respect," Merkel told reporters.

"But we also think from a German perspective that this is not sufficient in order to see to it that Iran´s ambitions are curbed and contained."

"Europe and the United States ought to be in lock step on this," she said.