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Trump to rebuke Iran but won't call for sanctions that threaten nuclear deal Trump to rebuke Iran but won't call for sanctions that threaten nuclear deal
(about 1 hour later)
Donald Trump is expected to disavow the Iran nuclear deal in a speech on Friday denouncing the government in Tehran, but will not call for the reimposition of sanctions that would have risked the collapse of the agreement, according to officials briefed on the president’s intentions.Donald Trump is expected to disavow the Iran nuclear deal in a speech on Friday denouncing the government in Tehran, but will not call for the reimposition of sanctions that would have risked the collapse of the agreement, according to officials briefed on the president’s intentions.
European officials expressed relief that the White House speech did not appear to represent an US abrogation of the 2015 deal, which they had intensively lobbied against since it became clear over recent months that Trump did not want to continue to certify the deal to Congress.European officials expressed relief that the White House speech did not appear to represent an US abrogation of the 2015 deal, which they had intensively lobbied against since it became clear over recent months that Trump did not want to continue to certify the deal to Congress.
“Of all the places it could have been on the spectrum, this is very much at the better end,” one European official said.“Of all the places it could have been on the spectrum, this is very much at the better end,” one European official said.
However, the speech will take a tough stance towards Iran which will raise tensions and is likely to cause friction in transatlantic ties. The US president will say the nuclear deal does not serve US national security interests, contradicting his defence secretary and top generals.However, the speech will take a tough stance towards Iran which will raise tensions and is likely to cause friction in transatlantic ties. The US president will say the nuclear deal does not serve US national security interests, contradicting his defence secretary and top generals.
Trump’s speech will include a list of allegations of malign Iranian behaviour, focusing on its ballistic missile programme, its role propping up the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad and its support for the Lebanese Shia militia, Hezbullah.Trump’s speech will include a list of allegations of malign Iranian behaviour, focusing on its ballistic missile programme, its role propping up the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad and its support for the Lebanese Shia militia, Hezbullah.
Trump will use an executive order to declare Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organisation. European capitals are unsure how this would be implemented, as estimates of IRGC’s control of the Iranian economy vary widely, but they agree it does play a destabilising role in the region. Trump will also impose sanctions on members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), focused on their support of militant groups abroad.
European allies have complained that the White House has not presented a plan on how to push back Iranian influence, particularly in Syria, where the Trump administration has insisted it did not want to get involved in the civil war, preferring to focus solely on fighting the Islamic State. The European allies have complained that the White House has not presented a plan on how to push back Iranian influence, particularly in Syria, where the Trump administration has insisted it did not want to get involved in the civil war, preferring to focus solely on fighting the Islamic State.
The greatest European fear was that Trump would torpedo the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), by reimposing sanctions, or calling on Congress to do so. That does not appear be Trump’s plan – although officials cautioned he could change his mind at the last moment.The greatest European fear was that Trump would torpedo the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), by reimposing sanctions, or calling on Congress to do so. That does not appear be Trump’s plan – although officials cautioned he could change his mind at the last moment.
Instead, the president will say his administration is willing to work with Congress and US allies to fix the “flaws” in the agreement, and vow to impose more vigorous verification of Iranian compliance.Instead, the president will say his administration is willing to work with Congress and US allies to fix the “flaws” in the agreement, and vow to impose more vigorous verification of Iranian compliance.
“In effect, he is saying if Iran goes one millilitre over the limits in the JCPOA, the US will leave. There will be no flexibility,” a senior official said.“In effect, he is saying if Iran goes one millilitre over the limits in the JCPOA, the US will leave. There will be no flexibility,” a senior official said.
Trump will also call on Congress to amend legislation that requires him to certify the agreement every 90 days, a source of political embarrassment as he has repeatedly denounced it as the “worst deal ever”. Under a new version being negotiated with Congress, he would have to endorse the deal less frequency but the US intelligence community would have to assess whether Iran is carrying out covert activity in facilities not visited by the IAEA.Trump will also call on Congress to amend legislation that requires him to certify the agreement every 90 days, a source of political embarrassment as he has repeatedly denounced it as the “worst deal ever”. Under a new version being negotiated with Congress, he would have to endorse the deal less frequency but the US intelligence community would have to assess whether Iran is carrying out covert activity in facilities not visited by the IAEA.
Under the Obama administration, Iran’s stockpile of heavy water (that can be used in certain nuclear reactors) twice went above the agreed limits, although according to the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is now well below that benchmark.Under the Obama administration, Iran’s stockpile of heavy water (that can be used in certain nuclear reactors) twice went above the agreed limits, although according to the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is now well below that benchmark.
The other signatories to the JCPOA – the UK, France, Germany, Russia, China and Iran, have said it is not realistic to try to renegotiate its terms. However, the European signatories have said they were ready to discuss how it can be bolstered by stiffer measures aimed at Iran’s missile programme, and what nuclear agreement might follow the JCPOA.The other signatories to the JCPOA – the UK, France, Germany, Russia, China and Iran, have said it is not realistic to try to renegotiate its terms. However, the European signatories have said they were ready to discuss how it can be bolstered by stiffer measures aimed at Iran’s missile programme, and what nuclear agreement might follow the JCPOA.