Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen expressed his opposition to the recent moves of the US President Trump in the international arena.

In a statement to a German newspaper, Bellen urged Europe to act independently from the US and its current president.

He also complained that Trump's pressure on European firms to cut trade with Iran has gone too far.

"Trump has pulled out from Iran’s nuclear deal, which Washington had negotiated and coordinated for years, with no reason and subsequently banned European companies from doing business with Iran, threatening with grave sanctions," he said.

"I think that this goes too far. The Europeans do not have to dance when Trump whistles. This also applies to other points of discord."

Last year, Trump unilaterally pulled Washington out of the nuclear deal, officially named the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA], and unleashed the toughest ever sanctions against Tehran despite international objections.

Since then, the US has been trying to coerce the European parties to the JCPOA into following its lead and scrapping the agreement.

However, the remaining signatories have pledged to make efforts to compensate for Washington’s withdrawal and make sure that Iran will be able to collect its economic dividends of the deal.

He also said the EU has a serious problem in decision-making and action. (ILKHA)