WASHINGTON – Donald Trump will waive sanctions against Iran “one last time,” upholding Washington’s commitment to the landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers, multiple reports citing White House official said.
Trump, however, will demand an agreement with European partners and an amendment to US law on the Iran nuclear deal, according to senior White House officials cited by the international media.
The reports follows a meeting between Trump and his national security advisers at the White House on Thursday.
The waiving of sanctions against Iran is part of the landmark nuclear deal agreed between Tehran and six world powers under the Obama administration in 2015. Trump has long been a critic of the agreement, previously dubbing it the “worst deal every negotiated.” The move to lift sanctions on Iran was made in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear program.
Ahead of Trump’s expected Friday announcement, Iran’s atomic energy had warned that it would take “necessary actions” if Trump were to re-impose sanctions, noting that it could speed up uranium enrichment.
“The American government should think wisely… even though they have shown until now unfortunately that they are not thinking or acting wisely,” Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi told state TV earlier this week, as quoted by Reuters.
On Thursday, the EU and member states urged Trump not to withdraw form the agreement, with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini saying the deal is “working” and “making the world safer.”
“It is delivering on its main goal, which means keeping the Iranian nuclear programme in check and under close surveillance,” she said during a joint press conference which included representatives from the European Union, the UK, France, and Germany.
