President Donald Trump on Tuesday terminated the U.S. participation in the Iran nuclear deal, calling it “unacceptable” and while announcing re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran.
“The Iran Deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into,” Trump said, while declaring that the deal “failed to protect America’s national security interests.”
The United States had reached an agreement along with six other countries on the Iran nuclear deal in 2015.
“President Donald J. Trump is terminating the United States’ participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran and re-imposing sanctions lifted under the deal,” the White House said as the president signed an order.
“The JCPOA enriched the Iranian regime and enabled its malign behavior, while at best delaying its ability to pursue nuclear weapons and allowing it to preserve nuclear research and development,” a White House statement said.
The re-imposed sanctions will target critical sectors of Iran’s economy, such as its energy, petrochemical, and financial sectors.
A number of experts and European countries had counselled against the U.S. abandoning the Iran deal.
But the White House said the United States withdrawal from the JCPOA will “pressure the Iranian regime to alter its course of malign activities and ensure that Iranian bad acts are no longer rewarded.”
“As a result, both Iran and its regional proxies will be put on notice. As importantly, this step will help ensure global funds stop flowing towards illicit terrorist and nuclear activities.”
Trump also cited intelligence recently released by Israel, saying it provides “compelling” details about Iran’s past secret efforts to develop nuclear weapons, which it lied about for years.
“The JCPOA failed to deal with the threat of Iran’s missile program and did not include a strong enough mechanism for inspections and verification. The JCPOA foolishly gave the Iranian regime a windfall of cash and access to the international financial system for trade and investment.
Instead of using the money from the JCPOA to support the Iranian people at home, the regime has instead funded a military buildup and continues to fund its terrorist proxies, such as Hizballah and Hamas,” the statement said.
Besides, President Trump will work to assemble a broad coalition of nations to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon and to counter the totality of the regime’s malign activities.
“Nations must work together to halt the Iranian regime’s destabilizing drive for regional hegemony.”
The White House also recounted Iran’s interference in regional countries.
“In Syria, the Iranian regime supports the Assad regime and is complicit in Assad’s atrocities against the Syrian people.
In Yemen, the regime has escalated the conflict and used the Houthis as a proxy to attack other nations.
In Iraq, Iran’s IRGC sponsors Shia militant groups and terrorists.
In Lebanon, the Iranian regime enables Hizballah to play a highly destabilizing role and to build an arsenal of weapons that threatens the region.”
At the same time, Trump argued that his Administration’s actions are directed against the malign behavior of the Iranian regime, not against the Iranian people, who are the regime’s longest-suffering victims.
The White House said President Trump is making clear that, in addition to never developing a nuclear weapon, the Iranian regime must:
“Never have an ICBM, cease developing any nuclear-capable missiles, and stop proliferating ballistic missiles to others.
Cease its support for terrorists, extremists, and regional proxies, such as Hizballah, Hamas, the Taliban, and al-Qa’ida.
End its publicly declared quest to destroy Israel.
Stop its threats to freedom of navigation, especially in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.
Cease escalating the Yemen conflict and destabilizing the region by proliferating weapons to the Houthis.
End its cyber-attacks against the United States and our allies, including Israel.
Stop its grievous human rights abuses, shown most recently in the regime’s crackdown against widespread protests by Iranian citizens.
Stop its unjust detention of foreigners, including United States citizens.”
