Trump to unveil new responses to Iranian 'bad behaviour' - White House

By Jonathan Landay

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before signing the National Manufacturing Day Proclamation at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 6, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump will announce new U.S. responses to Iran's missile tests, support for "terrorism" and cyber operations as part of his new Iran strategy, the White House said on Friday.

 

"The president isn't looking at one piece of this. He's looking at all of the bad behaviour of Iran," Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, told reporters.

 

"Not just the nuclear deal as bad behaviour, but the ballistic missile testing, destabilising of the region, Number One state sponsor of terrorism, cyber attacks, illicit nuclear programme," Sanders continued.

 

Trump "wants to look for a broad strategy that addresses all of those problems, not just one-offing those," she said. "That's what his team is focussed on and that's what he'll be rolling out to address that as a whole in the coming days."

 

A senior administration official told Reuters on Thursday that Trump was expected to announce he will decertify the landmark international deal curbing Iran's nuclear programme, in a step that could cause the accord to unravel.

 

The administration was considering Oct. 12 for Trump to give a speech on Iran, but no final decision had been made, an official said previously.

 

It was not clear to what illicit nuclear programme Sanders was referring as the International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is complying with the 2015 nuclear deal reached with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany and the European Union.

 

The Trump administration also has acknowledged that Iran has not breached the accord's Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, but contends that it has violated the "spirit" of the deal.

 

A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Friday that steps Trump is reviewing also include imposing targeted sanctions in response to Iran's ballistic missile tests, cyber espionage and backing of Lebanese Hezbollah and other groups on the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations.

 

Last month, current and former U.S. officials told Reuters the broader strategy Trump is weighing is expected to allow more aggressive U.S. actions to counter what the administration views as Iran's efforts to boost its military muscle and expand its regional influence through proxy forces.

 

Under a 2015 U.S. law, Trump has until Oct. 15 to certify to Congress that Iran is complying with the JCPOA. If he decides to decertify, lawmakers would have 60 days in which to consider reimposing U.S. sanctions on Iran lifted under the deal, an action that many experts warn could unhinge the accord.

 

Knowledgeable sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, have said the administration is looking for ways to fix what it views as serious flaws without necessarily killing the deal.

 

Critics say the flaws include the so-called sunset clauses, under which some of the restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme expire over time.

 

Trump's national security adviser, General H.R. McMaster, met with Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday in an effort to win their support for the strategy.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-10-07

Trump does so many things, including his language, like a bratty 6 year old.  Now his spokesperson is using the term 'bad behavior' to describe countries which have legacies going back thousands of years.   It's akin to him talking about PR; 'it's surrounded by water.  Lots of water.  Big water.'    Ok, I know Trump likes dumb people, because they form his base, .....but does he have to speak to everyone else, as if we're ding dongs with IQ's in single digits?   It reflects on the IQ of the speaker. 

5 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

....but does he have to speak to everyone else, as if we're ding dongs with IQ's in single digits?

Most people are ... so he is speaking to the masses in a way they can inderstand.

The Trump Administration have accused Iran of interfering in Middle East affairs.

Is Iran not in the Middle East?

 

Iran should know that only the United States has the right in interfere in Middle East affairs.

6 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

Trump does so many things, including his language, like a bratty 6 year old.  Now his spokesperson is using the term 'bad behavior' to describe countries which have legacies going back thousands of years.   It's akin to him talking about PR; 'it's surrounded by water.  Lots of water.  Big water.'    Ok, I know Trump likes dumb people, because they form his base, .....but does he have to speak to everyone else, as if we're ding dongs with IQ's in single digits?   It reflects on the IQ of the speaker. 

Mean time with Trump in charge the US is at least as unstable  a Nuclear power then North Korea.

Who the hell does Trump think the US are? World policeman not any more, they can not keep their own People safe in their own Country.

No other countries complain about the deal and Iran keeping up with the deal. The only unhappy one about this deal is Trump, because he has some personal problems with Obama. Just like Obama care plane. 

I never voted after Al Gore could not win. No Obama, no Hilary, no Trump. This country need a real president, not liars nor clowns. 

 

If Trump did not have enough problems in dealing with North Korea and threatening all out war, he now wants to start a war with Iran because if reneges in the Deal then Iran will start to manufacture Nuclear bombs again so what are his options there. .