BERLIN, May 11 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated their commitment to Iran nuclear deal in a phone call on Friday.

Steffen Seibert, spokesperson of German federal government, said in a statement that the two leaders' talks focused on the situation in the Middle and Near East following the United States' withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal.

Merkel and Putin reiterated that Germany and Russia are seeking to preserve the agreement between the remaining parties, according to the statement.

Both leaders were concerned about recent developments in the region. They agreed that it is crucial to avoid further escalation.

The two leaders also discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine, including the possibility of deploying a UN mission, Seibert said in the statement.

Merkel said earlier Friday that it was not right to unilaterally annul the nuclear deal, which was unanimously approved by the UN Security Council.