*WASHINGTON:* US President Donald Trump has all but decided to withdrawfrom the 2015 Iran nuclear accord by May 12 but exactly how he will do soremains unclear, two White House officials and a source familiar with theadministration’s internal debate told *Reuters* on Wednesday.

There is a chance Trump might choose to keep the United States in theinternational pact under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme inreturn for sanctions relief, in part because of “alliance maintenance” withFrance and to save face for French President Emmanuel Macron, who met Trumplast week and urged him to stay in, the source said.

A decision by Trump to end US sanctions relief would all but sink theagreement and could trigger a backlash by Iran, which could resume itsnuclear arms programme or “punish” US allies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen andLebanon, diplomats said.

Technically, Trump must decide by May 12 whether to renew “waivers”suspending some of the US sanctions on Iran. One of the White Houseofficials who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was possible Trumpwill end up with a decision that “is not a full pullout” but was unable todescribe what that might look like.

A presentation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday aboutwhat he said was documentary evidence of Tehran’s past nuclear armsprogramme could give Trump a fresh argument to withdraw, even though UNinspectors say Iran has complied with the terms of the deal. – APP/AFP