U.S. President Donald Trump will not certify that Iran is complying with the terms of a nuclear deal forged in 2015.
In a speech from Washington, D.C., Trump outlined a history of a “sponsorship of terrorism,” pointing specifically to attacks against the United States.
Trump said the deal was “one of the worst” and most “one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into”┬аand argued┬аthe sanctions lifted by the deal gave the country’s leaders a “lifeline” when they were in financial trouble, which was used to fund violence and terrorism.
He said┬аthe deal delivered weak inspections in exchange for no more than a temporary delay in Iran’s path to nuclear weapons.
“Based on the factual record I have put forward, I am┬аannouncing today that we cannot and will not make this┬аcertification,” Trump said.
He said his administration will seek to counter the Iranian┬аregime’s destabilizing activities and will impose additional sanctions┬аto block its financing of terrorism. Those sanctions especially target Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
The new strategy will also┬аseek to address the proliferation of Iran’s missiles and weapons, he said, adding that the┬аU.S. will deny Iran’s paths to develop nuclear weapons.
“If we are not able to reach a solution by working with Congress and our┬аallies then the agreement will be terminated,” Trump said. “It can be cancelled by me, as president,┬аat any time.”
Under U.S. law, Trump faced a Sunday deadline to notify Congress whether Iran is complying with the accord that was painstakingly negotiated over 18 months by the┬аObama┬аadministration and determine if it remains a national security priority.
Although Trump allowed that Iran is living up to the letter of the agreement, he said it was not following the agreement’s “spirit”┬аof the regional stability it was intended to encourage.
“The longer we ignore a threat the more dangerous that threat becomes,” Trump said.
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