Trump announces next step on Iran deal

President Trump today announced he would not certify the suspension of sanctions against Iran due to that country's efforts to develop a nuclear weapon and ballistic missiles.

According to his prepared remarks at the White House:

When the agreement was finalized in 2015, Congress passed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act to ensure that Congress' voice would be heard on the deal.  Among other conditions, this law requires the President, or his designee, to certify that the suspension of sanctions under the deal is "appropriate and proportionate" to measure -- and other measures taken by Iran to terminate its illicit nuclear program.  Based on the factual record I have put forward, I am announcing today that we cannot and will not make this certification.

We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror, and the very real threat of Iran’s nuclear breakout.

That is why I am directing my administration to work closely with Congress and our allies to address the deal’s many serious flaws so that the Iranian regime can never threaten the world with nuclear weapons.  These include the deal’s sunset clauses that, in just a few years, will eliminate key restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.

The flaws in the deal also include insufficient enforcement and near total silence on Iran’s missile programs.  Congress has already begun the work to address these problems.  Key House and Senate leaders are drafting legislation that would amend the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act to strengthen enforcement, prevent Iran from developing an inter- -- this is so totally important -- an intercontinental ballistic missile, and make all restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activity permanent under U.S. law.  So important.  I support these initiatives.

However, in the event we are not able to reach a solution working with Congress and our allies, then the agreement will be terminated.  It is under continuous review, and our participation can be cancelled by me, as President, at any time.

The White House also released a fact sheet outlining the steps the administration would take to implement the actions announced by Trump today.

Predictably, the move was met with support from congressional Republicans and criticism from Democrats.

In a statement, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) called Trump's move "a welcomed long overdue change." The administration’s plan offers "a path forward that centers our policy towards Iran on its destabilizing regional ambitions rather than its nuclear program alone. I look forward to learning more about the specifics of this strategy, and the Senate Armed Services Committee will conduct thorough oversight of our military's role in it."

Senate Select Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) called the president's decision "reckless and irresponsible," adding: "Leaving now would only undercut our ability to solve future diplomatic crises, including North Korea."

Additionally, she said, "if Congress reimposes sanctions, it's the United States, not Iran that will have broken its commitments, further damaging our credibility on the international stage, making a diplomatic solution with North Korea that much harder.”