US Withdraws from Iran Nuclear Deal
Donald Trump has announced the US will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and enforce "powerful" sanctions against the country. In a speech at the White House, he said that the Iran deal was "decaying and rotten" and "defective at its core"
IsraelDefense
| 08/05/2018
US President Donald Trump (Photo: AP)
President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that the United States is pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA.
"This was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made," Trump said at the White House in announcing his decision. "It didn’t bring calm, it didn’t bring peace, and it never will."
"[…] It is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement," the US President said. "The Iran deal is defective at its core. If we do nothing, we know exactly what will happen. In just a short period of time, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror will be on the cusp of acquiring the world’s most dangerous weapons. Therefore, I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal."
In his speech, Trump also accused Iran of destabilizing the Middle East through its support of militant groups such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and he charged that Tehran seeks to build "nuclear-capable" ballistic missiles.
Following his address, Trump signed a presidential memorandum to begin reinstating US nuclear sanctions on the Iranian regime. "We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanction. Any nation that helps Iran in its quest for nuclear weapons could also be strongly sanctioned by the United States," he said.
The US Treasury Department said in a statement that sanctions would be reinstated after "wind-down periods" of 90 or 180 days, including sanctions aimed at Iran's oil sector and transactions with its central bank.
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted that France, Germany and the UK "regret" Trump's' decision, saying the "nuclear nonproliferation regime is at stake."
European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on the international community to stick to the Iran nuclear deal despite the American withdrawal from it. "The European Union is determined to preserve it," she said of the 2015 accord with Tehran. "Together with the rest of the international community, we will preserve this nuclear deal."
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said his country would stay in the agreement even if the United States pulls out. Rouhani said he would keep "working with the world" for "constructive engagement." For this purpose, Rouhani said he would be sending Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to countries remaining in the accord.
The Iranian president also warned that his country could start enriching uranium more than ever in the coming weeks. "I have ordered Iran’s atomic organization that whenever it is needed, we will start enriching uranium more than before," he said after Trump's announcement.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu praised Trump's decision to withdraw from the JCPOA. "President Trump's decision is a courageous decision and a right decision," Netanyahu said. "If the agreement had been maintained, it would have allowed Iran enough material to develop a full arsenal of bombs," he added.
In his speech, Trump also announced that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is on his way to North Korea, where he will hold meetings ahead of Mr. Trump's expected meeting with the North Koreans.
Donald Trump has announced the US will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and enforce "powerful" sanctions against the country. In a speech at the White House, he said that the Iran deal was "decaying and rotten" and "defective at its core"
US President Donald Trump (Photo: AP)
President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that the United States is pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA.
"This was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made," Trump said at the White House in announcing his decision. "It didn’t bring calm, it didn’t bring peace, and it never will."
"[…] It is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement," the US President said. "The Iran deal is defective at its core. If we do nothing, we know exactly what will happen. In just a short period of time, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror will be on the cusp of acquiring the world’s most dangerous weapons. Therefore, I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal."
In his speech, Trump also accused Iran of destabilizing the Middle East through its support of militant groups such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and he charged that Tehran seeks to build "nuclear-capable" ballistic missiles.
Following his address, Trump signed a presidential memorandum to begin reinstating US nuclear sanctions on the Iranian regime. "We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanction. Any nation that helps Iran in its quest for nuclear weapons could also be strongly sanctioned by the United States," he said.
The US Treasury Department said in a statement that sanctions would be reinstated after "wind-down periods" of 90 or 180 days, including sanctions aimed at Iran's oil sector and transactions with its central bank.
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted that France, Germany and the UK "regret" Trump's' decision, saying the "nuclear nonproliferation regime is at stake."
European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on the international community to stick to the Iran nuclear deal despite the American withdrawal from it. "The European Union is determined to preserve it," she said of the 2015 accord with Tehran. "Together with the rest of the international community, we will preserve this nuclear deal."
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said his country would stay in the agreement even if the United States pulls out. Rouhani said he would keep "working with the world" for "constructive engagement." For this purpose, Rouhani said he would be sending Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to countries remaining in the accord.
The Iranian president also warned that his country could start enriching uranium more than ever in the coming weeks. "I have ordered Iran’s atomic organization that whenever it is needed, we will start enriching uranium more than before," he said after Trump's announcement.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu praised Trump's decision to withdraw from the JCPOA. "President Trump's decision is a courageous decision and a right decision," Netanyahu said. "If the agreement had been maintained, it would have allowed Iran enough material to develop a full arsenal of bombs," he added.
In his speech, Trump also announced that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is on his way to North Korea, where he will hold meetings ahead of Mr. Trump's expected meeting with the North Koreans.
