Trump determines fate of Iran nuke deal

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump determines the fate of the landmark Iran nuclear deal, announcing his verdict on US sanctions relief underpinning the international accord, which he has repeatedly and harshly criticised.

Officials and diplomats expect the pugnacious US leader to ignore last-ditch European pleas and move to withdraw the United States from a 2015 agreement, which he insists was “very badly negotiated”.

Trump has unsuccessfully demanded changes to the Obamaera deal, which saw Iran mothball a suspected nuclear weapons pro- gramme in return for massive sanctions relief.

Months of intensive talks between the United States and European allies now appear deadlocked, with Berlin, London and Paris refusing to rewrite the agreement.

The president tweeted he would announce his decision at 2pm, even as British foreign secretary Boris Johnson shuttled around Washington trying to reach a last-gasp breakthrough.

One European diplomat echoed the mood around embassies in Washington, saying “there is plainly a difference of opinion”, acknowledging that Trump seems poised to walk away from the accord.

Concretely, the US president will decide whether to continue to waive sanctions on Iran’s central bank and its oil sector dealings, a key pillar of the agreement.

“I would like to pretend to you today that I feel there is a chance of the existing (deal) remaining intact,” the European official said.

“I think that that chance may exist but it is very small.”

A French official said President Emmanuel Macron left the United States last week after a similar diplomatic offensive “convinced that we would get a negative decision”.