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Trump weighs 'decertifying' Iran nuclear deal
10/4/2017 5:37:00 PM
US President Donald Trump is weighing the issue of uncertifying Irans nuclear compliance
- The case against -
Trump has called the deal an 'embarrassment to the United States' and had urged allies and fellow signatories in London, Paris and Berlin to renegotiate it, something they are unwilling to do.
But now a middle path is being explored, which would make Trump's opposition clear, but stop short of scrapping the deal outright and perhaps clear the 90-day-review off his desk.
Under the plan, Trump could find Iran in breach or -- less provocatively -- refuse to certify Tehran's compliance, giving Congress 60 days to decide whether to impose sanctions.
The issue has prompted fierce debate inside the administration, and with this mercurial president, anything is still possible between now and the deadline.
But 'it seems like he was leaning that way,' said one official, echoing the accounts of others who refused to speak on the record, because of the sensitivity of the subject.
Hawks are urging confrontation with Iran, while others warn of inflaming the Middle East and seriously damage ties with European allies who consider the agreement in their vital national interest.
But now a middle path is being explored, which would make Trump's opposition clear, but stop short of scrapping the deal outright and perhaps clear the 90-day-review off his desk.
Under the plan, Trump could find Iran in breach or -- less provocatively -- refuse to certify Tehran's compliance, giving Congress 60 days to decide whether to impose sanctions.
The issue has prompted fierce debate inside the administration, and with this mercurial president, anything is still possible between now and the deadline.
But 'it seems like he was leaning that way,' said one official, echoing the accounts of others who refused to speak on the record, because of the sensitivity of the subject.
Hawks are urging confrontation with Iran, while others warn of inflaming the Middle East and seriously damage ties with European allies who consider the agreement in their vital national interest.
Some aides are also warning against escalating tensions at a time when an analogous nuclear stand-off with North Korea worsens.
In kicking the ball to Congress, Trump could still open the door to rupturing the deal.
Lawmakers could decide to impose sanctions that, if implemented, would shatter the terms of the international agreement and leave the United States in breach.
In July, four influential Republican Senators -- Tom Cotton, David Perdue, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio -- sent a letter to the administration claiming Iran had broken the accord on four counts.
A Congressional source said it was 'too early to say' whether there would be enough support to pass sanctions.
Much depends on how Trump frames their decision -- if he demands Congress do their job and sanction a 'nefarious' Iran, then pressure will grow.
The White House hopes to use the threat of sanctions to gather support for a harder international line on Iran.
It would like to see curbs on Tehran's ballistic missile program, and end to its support for militias across the Middle East and a revision of 'sunset clauses' that would permanently end sanctions without a permanent end to the nuclear program.
They are issues that allies believe should be addressed separately or in a successor agreement. There is also growing concern that if the deal survives, the same issue does not come every 90 days.
Some of the deal's reluctant supporters inside the White House are pressing for the certification requirement to be removed in any congressional action, a move that could also make life easier for Trump.
Lawmakers could decide to impose sanctions that, if implemented, would shatter the terms of the international agreement and leave the United States in breach.
In July, four influential Republican Senators -- Tom Cotton, David Perdue, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio -- sent a letter to the administration claiming Iran had broken the accord on four counts.
A Congressional source said it was 'too early to say' whether there would be enough support to pass sanctions.
Much depends on how Trump frames their decision -- if he demands Congress do their job and sanction a 'nefarious' Iran, then pressure will grow.
The White House hopes to use the threat of sanctions to gather support for a harder international line on Iran.
It would like to see curbs on Tehran's ballistic missile program, and end to its support for militias across the Middle East and a revision of 'sunset clauses' that would permanently end sanctions without a permanent end to the nuclear program.
They are issues that allies believe should be addressed separately or in a successor agreement. There is also growing concern that if the deal survives, the same issue does not come every 90 days.
Some of the deal's reluctant supporters inside the White House are pressing for the certification requirement to be removed in any congressional action, a move that could also make life easier for Trump.
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