Washington: President Donald Trump will lay out a more confrontational strategy toward Iran by the United States on Friday in a speech in which he is likely to strike a blow at an international Iran nuclear deal, complicating US relations with European allies.
US officials said Trump was expected to announce that he will not certify the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, believing the agreement is not in the national interests of the US. He had certified it twice before but aides said he was reluctant to do so a third time.
Trump could have a last minute change of heart before he outlines his administration’s new approach toward Iran in speech at the White House at 12.45 pm EDT on Friday.
International inspectors say Iran is in technical compliance with the accord, but Trump says Tehran is in violation of the spirit of the agreement and has done nothing to rein in its ballistic missile program or its financial and military support for Hezbollah and other extremist groups.
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly said the US approach toward Iran is to work with allies in the Middle East to contain Tehran’s activities.
European allies are warning of a split with the US on the issue.
This week, Trump has heard appeals from British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron for the US to certify the deal for the sake of allied unity.
“It’s imperative that Europe sticks together on this issue,” German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told the RND German newspaper group. “We also have to tell the Americans that their behavior on the Iran issue will drive us Europeans into a common position with Russia and China against the USA.”
Signed by the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, the European Union and Iran, the deal lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
Trump has called the accord “an embarrassment” and “the worst deal ever.”
European officials have categorically ruled out renegotiating the deal, but have said they share Trump’s concerns over Iran’s destabilising influence in the Middle East.
The threat of new action from Washington has prompted a public display of unity from the rival factions among Iran’s rulers.
CIA Director Mike Pompeo on Thursday kept up a steady drumbeat of Trump administration criticism of Iran, saying Tehran is “mounting a ruthless drive to be the hegemonic power in the region.”