Trump: Complete Withdrawal from the Nuclear Agreement is Highly Likely

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced on Monday, just days after unveiling his new strategy regarding Iran and the nuclear agreement, that he is taking necessary actions in this regard and that a complete withdrawal from the nuclear agreement is a "very real possibility." Mr. Trump, speaking to reporters ahead of his cabinet meeting, emphasized that he is "tired of being taken advantage of" and is taking necessary actions regarding the Iran nuclear agreement. He noted that this action may lead to an improvement in the nuclear agreement, "or as some believe more likely," the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement. On Friday, Mr. Trump had stated that due to numerous flaws in the Iran nuclear agreement, under his new strategy regarding Iran, and based on credible information he has received, he is unable to certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement. He warned that if we cannot reach a solution to this issue in cooperation with Congress and our allies, we will withdraw from the nuclear agreement. Mr. Trump and his administration view Iran's "destabilizing behaviors" as evidence of Tehran's non-compliance with an agreement that is supposed to lead to Iran's participation in regional and global peace and stability. However, the new U.S. approach to the Iran nuclear agreement, and the possibility that the U.S. Congress, citing the government's non-certification of compliance, may reinstate sanctions against Iran, has raised concerns among U.S. allies. In this context, according to a statement from Theresa May's office, the British Prime Minister, during a phone conversation with Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, emphasized the two countries' firm commitment to the Iran nuclear agreement and ensuring its implementation. In this phone conversation, which was held to discuss Donald Trump's decision not to certify Iran's compliance with the JCPOA, the leaders of the two countries also emphasized bilateral cooperation to pressure Iran regarding its destabilizing actions in the region. Just hours before this phone conversation, Reuters reported, citing Alistair Burt, a senior official at the British Foreign Office, that the UK is concerned about the implications of Donald Trump's decision regarding the JCPOA. Mr. Burt, speaking in the British Parliament, noted that the British government has "taken note" of the U.S. President's decision regarding Iran's non-certification of compliance with the JCPOA and is "concerned about its implications." The leaders of the three European countries involved in the Iran nuclear talks had previously stated in a statement that despite expressing concern about Iran's regional behaviors and missile tests, and the need for dialogue to resolve this issue, they consider remaining in this agreement as "in line with their common national interests." In this context, Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, reminded on Monday that the continued implementation of the JCPOA by all parties to the agreement is "a strong commitment for the European Union." Ms. Mogherini also announced that she will visit Washington in early November to urge American lawmakers not to withdraw from the nuclear agreement. Under the Iran nuclear agreement with world powers, reached in July 2015 after years of negotiations in Vienna, part of the international sanctions against Tehran is lifted in exchange for limitations on Iran's nuclear program. U.S. officials have cited the "unreliability" of the Iranian government as the reason for the U.S. hardline strategy towards Iran, but Iran believes that the cancellation of the nuclear agreement will lead to distrust of countries towards the U.S., and it emphasizes that it does not intend to be the first country to withdraw from the Vienna nuclear agreement.