WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump is expected to extend sanctionsrelief for Iran as part of a 2015 nuclear deal while his administrationworks out a “fix” to the multi-nation accord, American officials haverevealed, Press TV has reported.
The US president, who has to make up his mind by Friday, is likely toaccept recommendation from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, DefenseSecretary James Mattis and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster andextend the waivers for three more months, The Associated PressreportedWednesday, citing its unnamed sources with the Trump administration.
The move goes against Trump’s desire to end his country’s involvement inthe Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a landmark agreementbetween Iran and six world powers — the US, the UK, France, China, Russiaand Germany.
The deal puts limitations on parts of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program inexchange for removing all nuclear-related sanctions.
According to the AP report, however, Trump is likely to introduce a newseries of sanctions that would also include Iranian firms and individualswhose sanctions were scrapped under the JCPOA.
Two administration officials, two congressional aides and two outsideexperts who consult with the Trump White House warned that the matter was asubject of heated discussions and the Republican head of state could rejecthis national security team’s advice and announce a rather radical decision.link>
In October, Trump extended the relief but refused to certify Iran’scompliance with the JCPOA, warning that he might ultimately terminateWashington’s participation in defiance of all the other signatories.
He also announced sanctions on Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps(IRGC), which he accused of destabilizing the Middle East and threateningAmerican interests in the region.
The president argues that Iran’s development of ballistic missiles fordefensive purposes is in breach of a UN Security Council resolution thatendorses the JCPOA.
He has also complained that the JCOPA-related restrictions would expirenext decade. This, he argues, underscores the need for toughening the deal,which he has repeatedly referred to as “embarrassing” and “the worst deal”made in history.
This is while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedlyverified Iran’s adherence to the terms of the JCPOA since January 2016,when the deal took effect.