Pence demands EU to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence pressed European countries on Saturday to withdraw from a nuclear deal between Iran and major powers and urged them to be wary of using telecoms equipment supplied by Chinese provider Huawei.

“The time has come for our European partners to stand with us and with the Iranian people,” Pence told the Munich Security Conference. “The time has come for our European partners to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.”

“The United States has also been very clear with our security partners on the threat posed by Huawei and other Chinese telecom companies,” he said. “We must protect our critical telecom infrastructure and America is calling on all our security partners to be vigilant”.

He said that by withdrawing from the accord will help bring security and freedom to the Iranian people.

Pence also reiterated his call for NATO members to boost defense spending -- and urges them to channel arms purchases to western allies.

"We have also made it clear that we will not stand idly by while NATO allies purchase weapons from our adversaries," Pence said. "We cannot ensure the defense of the West if our allies grow dependent on the East.