Donald Trump says Iran isn’t meeting ‘spirit’ of 2015 nuclear deal
At a meeting with Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni, Donald Trump says Iran has not lived up to the spirit of the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with the US and other world powers
US President Donald Trump (right) holds a joint news conference, highlighting the 2015 nuclear deal, with Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni at the White House in Washington on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Washington: Iran isn’t meeting the “spirit” of the 2015 deal it signed with the US and other world powers to roll back its nuclear weapons program, President Donald Trump said.
“They are not living up to the spirit of the agreement,” Trump said on Thursday at a news conference with Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni at the White House. “We’re analyzing it very carefully. Iran has not lived up to the spirit of the agreement and they have to do that.”
He again called the nuclear deal a “terrible agreement,” but he hasn’t withdrawn the US from the accord. In fact, the tough talk followed the most tangible step the Trump administration has taken on Iran: On Tuesday, secretary of state Rex Tillerson certified to Congress that the Islamic Republic is complying with the terms of the deal, a finding required by law every 90 days.
Trump didn’t make clear why he considers Iran to be in violation of the “spirit” of the accord. He and his aides have previously criticized the accord for letting Iran continue to support Hezbollah and other terrorist groups and to continue development of a ballistic missile program.
Despite certifying that Iran was complying with the deal, Tillerson told reporters on Wednesday that the agreement only delayed the country’s ambition to gain weapons of mass destruction and will be reviewed.
“This deal represents the same failed approach of the past,” Tillerson said. “The Trump administration has no intention of passing the buck to a future administration.” Bloomberg
