US retains Iranian deal curbs relief — for now

washington — The United States agreed on Thursday to continue for now to exempt Iran from nuclear-related sanctions but slapped new measures on targets accused of cyber attacks or destabilising the region.

The decision to continue to waive the sanctions was expected, but the new sanctions and some tough words from President Donald Trump will be seen as a victory for opponents of the Iran nuclear deal.

Trump is due to decide before October 15 whether Iran has breached the 2015 nuclear agreement, and critics fear he may abandon an accord they think prevents Tehran from building a nuclear bomb.

“You’ll see what I’m going to be doing very shortly in October,”

the Iran deal is not a fair deal to this country. It’s a deal that should not have ever been made Donald Trump, US President

Trump told reporters travelling with him on Air Force One.

“The Iran deal is one of the worst deals I’ve ever seen, the US president added. “Certainly at a minimum the spirit of the deal is atrociously kept. The Iran deal is not a fair deal to this country. It’s a deal that should not have ever been made.”

Policy hawks welcomed the US Treasury’s announcement of new sanctions on non-nuclear issues, and officials were at pains to show they had waived nuclear sanctions only grudgingly. —