U.S. Media: President Trump to Announce His Policy on JCPOA on October 12
Some U.S. media outlets, citing their sources, say the President of the United States intends to announce his policy regarding Iran’s commitment or non-commitment to the nuclear agreement on Thursday, October 12 (October 3, 2017). However, no White House official has yet confirmed this date.
The Associated Press reported that U.S. officials say Donald Trump, the U.S. President, will announce his decision next week in a speech about whether America will remain in or withdraw from the 2015 atomic agreement of world powers, known as the P5+1, with Iran.
Under U.S. law, the President of the United States is required to inform Congress every three months of his position on Iran’s compliance with the nuclear agreement. President Trump has so far certified Iran’s compliance twice, but in April, U.S. media reported he was reluctant to do so and subsequently appointed a team to identify instances of Iran’s breach of commitments under the JCPOA.
The next deadline is Sunday, October 15, but Mr. Trump may announce his position before the October 15 deadline regarding whether, in his view, Iran has fulfilled its JCPOA commitments and whether this agreement serves U.S. interests.
On Wednesday, October 3, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that as U.S. Secretary of State, he will present recommendations regarding Iran to President Trump. In an unexpected and brief press conference about Iran’s nuclear agreement, he told reporters: “We will have a recommendation for the President. We will present him with several options on how to proceed in advancing our important policy against Iran.”
Secretary Tillerson’s remarks came after the U.S. Secretary of Defense had previously stated that Iran should remain in the JCPOA.
In his speech last month to the United Nations, Mr. Trump called the atomic agreement with Iran shameful and described it as one of the worst and most one-sided deals the United States has ever seen.
Iran and the P5+1 countries, including the United States, signed the “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” known as the JCPOA, in June 2015. Under this agreement, Iran halted its controversial nuclear programs and the international community lifted nuclear sanctions against Iran.
This agreement was reached during the Barack Obama administration, but President Trump has said since his candidacy that this was the worst deal; however, some analysts have advised him to increase pressure on Iran instead of withdrawing from it.
Source: Voice of America
