Senator Corker: Trump Sees No Problem with Exiting the JCPOA

Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Wednesday that if the Europeans do not address the issues that Donald Trump has raised about the nuclear agreement, the U.S. President sees no problem with exiting the deal. Corker noted that signs of hope have emerged in recent days. He also added that with the visit of Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, and Emmanuel Macron, the French President, to Washington, there is a possibility that the JCPOA could still be maintained. Corker stated that if no progress is made from now until the JCPOA's renewal deadline, 'the President of the United States will exit the JCPOA.' In his latest move regarding the JCPOA extension, Donald Trump warned that 'if the fundamental problems of this agreement are not resolved,' he will not extend it. The deadline for the U.S. to renew the JCPOA is May 12, which corresponds to May 22 in the Iranian calendar. On January 12, Trump issued an ultimatum to the Europeans to either amend the JCPOA or he would not sign the continuation of the suspension of U.S. sanctions. Corker mentioned that the Europeans are 'welcoming' negotiations on two aspects of the JCPOA – one being Iran's ballistic missile program and the other the inspection methods under the current JCPOA. However, regarding the sunset clause, Germany believes that negotiating this issue means negotiating the entire agreement. Corker disagreed with Germany's stance but acknowledged that this is their declared position. The U.S. seeks to eliminate the sunset clause in the JCPOA. According to the 'sunset clause,' Iran can increase its enrichment centrifuges after 10 years and is allowed to increase its stockpile of less-enriched uranium after 15 years. Previously, on March 17 of last year, Corker stated in a television interview that he does not believe Trump is inclined to extend the JCPOA.