Trump says Iran complying with nuclear deal but remains dangerous threat

By Steve Holland

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump addresses the "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration on Monday declared that Iran was complying with its nuclear agreement with world powers, but warned that Tehran was in default of the spirit of the accord and that Washington would look for ways to strengthen it.

 

It was the second time Trump certified Iranian compliance with the agreement since he took office in January, despite criticizing it during the 2016 campaign as "the worst deal ever."

 

Trump administration officials, briefing reporters on Monday on the decision, said new economic sanctions against Iran were being prepared over its ballistic missile program and for contributing to regional tensions.

 

Under U.S. law, the State Department must notify Congress every 90 days of Iran's compliance with the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Trump had faced a congressionally mandated deadline of Monday to decide.

 

A senior administration official said Iran was judged in compliance of the 2015 nuclear deal but that Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson believed Iran "remains one of the most dangerous threats to U.S. interests and to regional stability."

 

The official ticked off a list of accusations about Iranian behavior in the region, including ballistic missile development and proliferation, support for terrorism and militancy, complicity in atrocities committed in Syria and threats to Gulf waterways.

 

"The president and the secretary of state judge that these Iranian activities severely undermine the intent of the JCPOA, which was to contribute to regional and international peace and security. As a result, the president, the secretary of state and the entire administration judge that Iran is unquestionably in default of the spirit of the JCPOA," the official said.

 

'TOTALITY OF BEHAVIOR'

 

The landmark deal struck with Iran by the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany is aimed at preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon by imposing time-limited restrictions and strict international monitoring on its nuclear program. In return, Tehran won relief from punishing international economic sanctions.

 

Iran denies seeking nuclear arms. The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, concluded in December 2015, however, that Iran worked on the design of a missile-borne nuclear warhead until 2009.

 

While lifting nuclear-linked sanctions, the United States maintains sanctions related to Iran's ballistic missile program, human rights record and what Washington charges is its support for international terrorism.

 

The senior administration official said the Trump administration intended to employ a strategy that would "address the totality of Iran's malign behavior" and not just focus on the Iran nuclear agreement.

 

The administration is also looking at ways to strengthen the nuclear deal and more strictly enforce it, the official said, citing concerns that the deal over time would let Iran openly pursue industrial-scale nuclear fuel enrichment.

 

"We're in a period where we’re going to be working with our allies to explore options for addressing the JCPOA's flaws, which there are many," the official said.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-18

this is pathetic that this kind of nonsense works for any base at all of Americans.

in the 21st century? how long will it take?

there are still areas in the country where folks can be socially surrounded by illiterate people who believe all kinds of crap.... and they get to vote.  

I'm beginning to really appreciate the Chinese...  in this way too, run by a big party. and their science advances..... they have a competitively priced drone now, and their own air craft carriers.  we have Elon.  but Elon is a story about open immigration policies.... it's not a story about "democracy"... nor Donald Trump's Make America Great Again. the opposite of that.



 

The biggest threat is Trump himself.

Apparently, the far right is losing patience with him as he is not fulfilling his election promises. Wall at Mexican border, repealing Obamacare , stopping immigration from selected Muslim countries

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Tehran was in default of the spirit of the accord and that Washington would look for ways to strengthen it.

That will be without Russia and China.

And depending on how deeply German and British firms establish new trade relationships with Iran, they too may not be so anxious to sacrifice business (especially with UK's planned EU exit) to support Trump's paranoia.

 

32 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

That will be without Russia and China.

And depending on how deeply German and British firms establish new trade relationships with Iran, they too may not be so anxious to sacrifice business (especially with UK's planned EU exit) to support Trump's paranoia.

 

 

Yes, getting other nations to support reinstating sanctions or amending the agreement ain't gonna happen. Was hard enough to pull through with a less controversial president. And yes, too many snouts back in the trough already, and will be further lodged therein with every isolationist, protectionist statement coming from Trump's administration.

 

As for "paranoia" - doubt it applies. I think that the Iranians generally comply with the agreement, but at the same time try to get away with whatever possible. No complaints, that's how these things go. Don't know that there was a "spirit of the agreement", and obviously it did cover all elements of Iran's activities which the US objects to. So most of what Trump's about is more to do with keeping up his previous campaign trail statements regardless of their factual status or relevance. Same old.

Its hard to be friendly with two arch enemies and the US won't be breaking ties with Saudi Arabia any time soon.

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