Trump's Latest Statements and Reactions Ahead of Decision on Nuclear Agreement

The President of the United States says the nuclear agreement of the previous administration, involving five world powers and Iran, is one of the most flawed agreements he has seen; Donald Trump is set to speak soon about strategies regarding Iran and this agreement. Reactions to the possibility of him not endorsing the nuclear agreement have been increasing. On October 10, Donald Trump stated in an interview with Fox News that the nuclear agreement is 'one of the most flawed agreements' he has seen and that the United States has 'gained nothing' from it. He remarked, 'This should have been dealt with a long time ago.' In this interview, Trump claimed, 'They quickly gained the path to acquiring nuclear weapons' and added that the previous U.S. administration gave Iran $1.7 billion in cash: 'Do you know how much money that is? Have you ever seen a million dollars... that's a lot... this is the worst deal.' Trump's reference is to the payment of $1.7 billion by the previous U.S. administration to Tehran for a weapons purchase contract prior to the Iranian revolution, which was suspended after the revolution. Following the nuclear agreement two years ago, the payment of this frozen amount and its interest attracted attention coinciding with the release of American citizens imprisoned in Iran. At that time, Republican representatives in the United States had called for an investigation into it. The Obama administration stated that the agreement for this payment was made without external reasons and not as a ransom, but following negotiations related to it in the months leading up to the nuclear agreement. Trump emphasized in this interview that the U.S. has gained nothing from the nuclear agreement. Trump has repeatedly criticized the nuclear agreement, calling it 'a source of shame,' 'the worst deal,' or 'a one-sided agreement.' These criticisms continued both during the presidential election campaign last year and after Trump's victory. Trump and his administration claim that Iran 'ignores' the spirit of the nuclear agreement and has posed risks and problems to the world and the Middle East through missile tests capable of carrying nuclear warheads and 'destabilizing' actions in the region. Criticism of the JCPOA and calls for its repeal or amendment have supporters both within the U.S. and abroad, with the Israeli government at the forefront. Benjamin Netanyahu has also been a staunch critic of the nuclear negotiations and the subsequent agreement. Netanyahu has called for a complete repeal or amendment of the JCPOA's content. Among Israel's concerns, which have been echoed in some statements by senior U.S. officials, is the expiration of time limits set on certain Iranian nuclear activities. In a recent speech at the United Nations, the Israeli Prime Minister stated that the JCPOA not only does not prevent Iran's nuclear activities but that with the expiration of its time limits, Iran's ability to enrich uranium to any level and 'build a nuclear bomb' will be unrestricted. Iran has always denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. Tehran has also stated regarding its missile tests that since it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, they are not capable of carrying nuclear warheads and emphasized that the development of its missile program has a 'defensive aspect' and 'will continue.' Tehran does not hide its support for groups, some of which, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, are listed as terrorist organizations by the U.S. In contrast to the opponents, some politicians within the U.S., the European Union and countries on that continent, Russia, and China, which were present during the negotiations between the Obama administration and Tehran, are among those calling for adherence to the nuclear agreement. Reuters reported on October 10, citing several political officials, that European officials are seeking to prepare a set of measures to keep the nuclear agreement alive in the event of a U.S. withdrawal. Although the report also emphasized that maintaining the nuclear agreement without the United States will not be easy, political officials speaking to Reuters stated that Europeans, in addition to a package of measures, intend to issue a 'strong statement' in support of the nuclear agreement. Senior officials in Berlin, Paris, and London are also concerned about the situation in the Middle East; from their perspective, the nuclear agreement formed with Iran is described as an unusual symbol of diplomatic victory. Moscow and Beijing have also expressed hope that Washington will adhere to the agreement, with Russia stating that the exit of 'any country' from it 'will certainly have negative consequences.' Among members of Trump's administration, several senior figures have called for his 'conditional support' for the agreement. Among these individuals is the U.S. Secretary of Defense, who stated on October 2 during a Q&A session in the U.S. Senate that 'if we can conclude that this (agreement) better serves our interests, then it is clear that we should remain in it.' In recent days, various reports, assessments, and analyses regarding the future of the nuclear agreement have been published. The speech of the U.S. President, which is likely to take place tomorrow, will answer many ambiguities regarding this matter. Currently, there is a strong suspicion that Trump will not endorse the agreement and will leave its future to Congress. Dennis Ross, a former member of the National Security Council, noted in a Wall Street Journal piece that the President's confirmation of the agreement is not part of the 'JCPOA' but is a requirement placed on this official by Congress; however, this will effectively pressure Congress to restore sanctions. NBC News reported on Wednesday, citing several news sources within the U.S. government and Congress, that Trump has decided to tell Congress that Tehran's actions are contrary to the spirit of the nuclear agreement. It is expected that in Trump's upcoming speech, he will discuss what has been described as 'America's new strategy regarding Iran's bad behaviors'; according to reports, this will include measures and strategies against a number of actions from missile tests, 'cyber attacks' to what Washington calls 'state-sponsored terrorism.'