SOFIA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- European Council President Donald Tusk called here on Wednesday for a united European front against the United States withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.

"Following last week's announcement of the United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, we need a united European front," said Tusk who arrived in Sofia to participate in the EU-Western Balkans Summit.

"I want leaders to reconfirm that the EU sticks to the deal as long as Iran does," Tusk said.

"The deal is good for European and global security, which is why we must maintain it. Despite the U.S. hesitation," he said.

Options for the EU to protect European companies from negative consequences of the U.S. decision were also needed, Tusk said.

"I want the European Commission to be given a green light, so that it is ready to act whenever European interests are affected," he said.

The EU should also seek ways, together with other partners, to address very real concerns over Iran's ballistic missile program and its regional activities, Tusk said.

Trump has recently confirmed that the United States would abandon the accord with Iran signed by his predecessor Barack Obama in 2015, and renew the sanctions on Iran which the pact had ended.

Under the deal, Iran agreed to freeze its nuclear programs in return for the lifting of most international sanctions.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Iran has so far complied with all of the conditions established under the deal.