Mike Pence: US no longer certifies Iran nuclear deal
US Vice President Mike Pence called Iran the leading state sponsor of terrorism and said that the United States will no longer tolerate Iran's destabilizing activities in the region.
US Vice President Mike Pence's remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday, February 22, have fueled speculation that US sanctions on Iranian oil sales may be reimposed.
Mike Pence said the United States would no longer endorse the “disastrous nuclear deal” with Iran. He called Iran the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and said the United States would no longer tolerate its destabilizing activities in the region.
US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, extended the lifting of sanctions on Iran for a final 120 days in January 2018. He also threatened Europe that the US would withdraw from the deal if it was not amended. The 120-day period ends on May 11.
Trump called the JCPOA the worst deal ever reached and said there were "many violations" of the agreement by Iran.
US analyst Joe McMonigal said on Thursday that Mike Pence's comments indicate that the Trump administration is on track to return to Iran oil sanctions at the end of the May deadline.
He said he thinks the only way to save the EU nuclear deal now is to reach some kind of side agreement on ballistic missiles. McMonagle, however, made it clear that he does not think Iran will cooperate in this regard.
Iran has repeatedly insisted on continuing its missile program, saying that this program has a defensive aspect and that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not intend to negotiate in this regard.
Source: DW
