Donald Trump on Tuesday afternoon announced the US would violate the Iran nuclear agreement, nearly three years after the the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was struck.
In exiting the JCPOA, Trump broke from US allies in Europe and has potentially triggered a new crisis in the Gulf.
We’re closing down the live blog, but more news and analysis is coming this evening. Here’s where things are at now.
Trump justified the exit by claiming that Iran is building a nuclear program, without providing evidence that this is true. “At the heart of the deal was a giant fiction,” Trump said. He used inflammatory language throughout the speech, flinging accusations at Iran though the country has acted in compliance with the nuclear agreement.
- He also announced the US will re-impose sanctions against Iran, which will be rolled out in keeping with 90 day and 180 day wind-down periods.
- Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, said “this is a psychological war” and that he believed the agreement could survive if other negotiating partners defied Trump. “I’m happy that the pesky being has left the Barjam,” Rouhani said, referring to the Persian acronym for the deal.
- European allies Germany, France and the UK said they had “regret and concern” about Trump’s decision and planned to continue abiding by the agreement.
- Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he “fully supports” Trump’s decision. “Israel thanks President Trump for his courageous leadership,” he said.
- Former US president Barack Obama, whose administration negotiated the Iran deal, warned Trump’s decision could have dire implications. Obama said: “Without the JCPOA, the United States could eventually be left with a losing choice between a nuclear-armed Iran or another war in the Middle East.” SOURCE: UK Guardian
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