WASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump is expected to announce on Tuesday whether he decides to withdraw from the nuclear deal signed in 2015 by the six major world powers (US, Russia, China, UK, Germany and France) with Iran.
‘’I will be announcing my decision on the Iran Deal tomorrow from the White House at 2:00pm,’’ Trump tweeted on Monday.
Known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA), the 2015 agreement saw heavy economic sanctions against Iran lifted in return for curbs on its nuclear program.
The U.S. president had given Europeans until May 12 to “fix the terrible flaws” to the nuclear deal’s most controversial provisions. That’s the date by which he is required to inform Congress whether he will waive nuclear sanctions on Iran lifted by the accord.
French, German and British leaders have visited Washington in recent weeks to plea for the US president to remain within the accord. But US officials say he is likely to withdraw, throwing the entire agreement in doubt.
It appears that the American and European negotiators have been unable to make the changes to the deal, while the other key signatories—Iran, Russia and China—are all opposed to any alterations.
At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a longtime opponent of the agreement, gave a public presentation last week that detailed new Israeli intelligence outlining Iran’s covert attempts at developing a nuclear arsenal.
Following the presentation, Trump tweeted that he was “100 percent right” about Iran’s intentions.