Trump keeps Iran deal, but eyes more sanctions

WASHINGTON, D. C.: Donald Trump has backed away from a campaign promise to scrap a major nuclear security deal with Iran, with of and related sanctions relief will stay in place for now.

The Trump administration faced a new congressional deadline Monday to say whether Iran has curbed its nuclear weapons program in line with the accord.

Under the terms of the two-yearold agreement, Tehran scaled back production of nuke-making material in return for massive sanctions relief.

“The conditions,” according to would not name publicly, “have been met, based on information available to the United States.”

The 2015 agreement rests on a series of technical benchmarks, and was seen in Washington as a way of avoiding military action to prevent Iran from getting a nuke.

But it has not relieved tensions between Tehran and Washington, which continue to clash particu- East like Syria and Yemen, where Iran-backed militias hold clout.

On a trip to Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia in May, Trump called on all nations to “isolate” Shiite Iran.

During his election campaign Trump denounced the deal— reached under former president Barack Obama—and promised to renegotiate it and get tough on Iran.

Iran’s compliance since taking in place.

But the White House took pains to stress it was not going soft on Iran, pointing to new non-nuclear sanctions and stricter implementation of the deal.

that we will be implementing new sanctions that pertain to Iran’s ballistic missile program and fast boat program.”

“Iran remains one of the most dangerous threats to US interests and regional stability,” the official said.