American media: President Trump to announce his policy on the JCPOA on October 10
Some American media outlets, citing their sources, say that the President of the United States plans to announce his policy regarding Iran's compliance or non-compliance with the nuclear deal on Thursday, October 12. However, no White House official has yet confirmed this date.
The Associated Press reported that US officials say US President Donald Trump will announce his decision in a speech next week on whether the US will remain in the 2015 nuclear deal between world powers, known as the P5+1, with Iran.
According to US law, the US president is required to report to the US Congress every three months on Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal. President Trump has twice confirmed Iran's compliance, but in May, US media reported that he was reluctant to do so and then appointed a team to identify violations of Iran's commitment to the JCPOA.
The next deadline is Sunday, October 15, but Mr. Trump may announce his intention before the October 15 deadline whether he believes Iran has fulfilled its commitments under the JCPOA and whether the agreement advances US interests.
On Wednesday, October 3, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he would provide President Trump with advice on Iran as secretary of state. “We will have advice for the president. We will provide him with some options on how to move forward with our important policy on Iran,” he told reporters in an unexpected and brief press conference about the Iran nuclear deal.
Mr. Tillerson's remarks come after the US Secretary of Defense had previously said that Iran should remain in the JCPOA.
In his speech to the United Nations last month, Mr. Trump called the Iran nuclear deal "shameful" and called it one of the worst and most one-sided agreements the United States has ever made.
Iran and the P5+1 countries, including the United States, signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in July 2015. Under this agreement, Iran halted its controversial nuclear programs and the international community lifted nuclear sanctions on Iran.
This agreement was made during the Barack Obama administration, but President Trump has said since his candidacy that it was the worst deal, but now some analysts have advised him to tighten the pressure on Iran instead of withdrawing.
Source: Voice of America
