Iranians warned on nuclear proposals
PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has declared that if the Iranians “restart their nuclear programme, they will have bigger problems than they have ever had before”.
President Trump issued his warning alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in the Oval Office, where the two allies discussed the multinational nuclear agreement, the war in Syria and trade issues during a day of meetings at the White House.
President Trump was asked by reporters if he might be willing to stay in the Iran agreement on nuclear enrichment. He replied, “People know my views on the Iran deal ... It’s insane, it’s ridiculous. It should have never been made.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned the Trump administration that pulling out would undermine America’s talks with North Korea by proving the US reneges on its promises. He said in an interview that if President Trump withdraws, Iran would “most likely” abandon the deal as well.
Speaking before President Trump’s comments with Mr Macron, Mr Zarif added that Iran would no longer be bound by the deal’s international obligations. That would free Iran to resume enrichment activity beyond the limits imposed by the 2015 accord.
President Trump remains publicly undecided on the deal, saying on Tuesday “no one knows” what he will do at the deadline he set to determine America’s position.
But he reminded his French counterpart of what he sees as flaws in the agreement, which he said fails to address ballistic missiles or Iran’s activities in Yemen or Syria. President Trump suggested he was open to “doing something” on the Iran agreement as long as it was done “strongly.”