Why Trump hates the Iran deal, explained
Posted on: May 8, 2018 at 13:23:14 CT
Spanky KU
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On July 14, 2015, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Germany, and the European Union agreed to lift sanctions imposed on Iran’s nuclear program, giving Iran greater access to the global economy.
In return, Iran agreed to start curbing its nuclear program, limiting it to strictly peaceful applications, and to allow comprehensive inspections of key nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure compliance.
But Trump doesn’t like the deal for three main reasons.
First, he says that Iran is violating the “spirit” of the deal because it continues to work against U.S. interests in the Middle East. For example, Tehran still tests ballistic missiles, supports Bashar al-Assad in Syria and terrorist groups like Hezbollah, and counters its archenemy, Saudi Arabia. However, none of that is prohibited under the Iran deal.
Second, Trump doesn’t like that certain restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program have sunset clauses. The restraints on Iran’s centrifuges disappear after 10 years, and the limits on uranium enrichment go away five years after that. Trump says that would allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon once the constraints lift.
Finally, Trump says he can make a better deal. Here’s how he partially wants to do it: curb Iran’s missile tests, allow more inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities, and remove the time limits on uranium and centrifuge restrictions. The U.S. is working with Europeans on Trump’s proposed changes, but they have yet to reach an agreement. If they do, the hope is that Iran will go along with the new accord.
It’s still unclear if that will happen. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that the current deal could survive even without the U.S. However, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said last week that Iran would “most likely” leave the deal if the U.S. withdrew from it.