U.S. withdrawal from nuke deal hurts Int´l relations

The withdrawal of the United States from the Iran nuclear agreement could badly hurt the transatlantic relations, said President Sauli Niinistö here on Tuesday.

At a press conference held after his meeting with President of Iceland Guoni Johannesson, Niinistö said that the issue about the Iran nuclear agreement is a reason to worry about the security situation globally.

"The U.S. is not anymore a part in it. That even more badly hurts the transatlantic relations," noted Niinistö. "It impacts hugely wider than just Iran and the nuclear agreement."

Finland and Iceland have a similar viewpoint in maintaining the peaceful situation not only in Europe, but also worldwide, he added.

As for the Arctic issues, Niinistö claimed that both Finland and Iceland are trying to keep the Arctic as a neutral area.

Finland is serving as chair of the Arctic Council from 2017 to 2019, and Iceland will chair the council for the next term.

"The Arctic working has been quite productive. A good example is that the U.S. and Russia have found a lot of common grounds in cooperation, and we are trying to keep the good mood going on," said the president.

Echoing with his counterpart, the Icelandic president said that sustainability is a key for the peaceful, sensible and profitable Arctic. Sustainable use of resources and environmental concerns are the forefront of the Arctic issues.

"Short-term interests are not considered more valuable than the long-term necessity of the available and sustainable Arctic," said Johannesson at the press conference.

Johannesson and his wife Eliza Reid are making a state visit to Finland from May 14 to 17. During the visit, Johannesson will also meet the Finnish prime minister and the speaker of the Finnish Parliament.