Trump will not sign off on Iran deal
DONALD Trump struck a blow against the 2015 Iran nuclear deal yesterday – refusing to certify that Tehran is complying with it.
He said the pact is merely a “temporary delay” on Iran’s “path to nuclear weapons”.
And he accused Tehran of committing multiple violations of the deal, although he did not offer any evidence or details.
In a speech at the White House, Trump accused the “fanatical regime” in Tehran of spreading “death, destruction and chaos around the globe”.
The president again labelled the pact “one of the worst” his country had ever entered into.
But he stopped short of withdrawing the US from the multi-national pact.
He said he wanted his administration to work with Congress to “address the deal’s many serious flaws”.
And he gave Congress 60 days to decide whether to reimpose the economic sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under the pact.
Any decision to reimpose nuclear-related sanctions would kill America’s participation in the deal.
Trump added: “If we are not able to reach a solution … the agreement will be terminated.”
Last night, the leaders of Britain, France and Germany issued a statement saying they “stand committed” to the deal and are “concerned by the possible implications” of Trump’s move.
Russia’s foreign ministry said Trump’s “aggressive, threatening rhetoric” had no place in international diplomacy.
Under the 2015 pact, Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear programme for at least 10 years in exchange for the loosening of sanctions that had crippled its economy.