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Trump: This is the calm before the storm Trump might 'abandon Iran nuclear deal'
(35 minutes later)
US President Donald Trump has said it is the "calm before the storm" as he met military leaders, without giving further details. US President Donald Trump may be planning to abandon the Iran nuclear deal, according to US media reports.
The cryptic comments came hours after reports he was planning to withhold support for the Iran nuclear deal. If he fails to certify the accord, Congress will decide whether to re-impose economic sanctions on Iran. Mr Trump has until 15 October to decide.
But the "storm" could also refer to heightened tensions with North Korea. Opposition to the deal was a major part of his campaign last year.
He had earlier told his top defence officials he expected them to provide "a broad range of military options... at a much faster pace" in future. Posing for photographers with military leaders on Thursday, he said this was "the calm before the storm" but refused to give further details.
Mr Trump posed in the White House with his wife Melania as well as military leaders and their wives, after Thursday's meetings but before dinner together. Gesturing at the people around him, he asked the waiting press if they knew "what this represents". There was speculation his comments might refer to heightened tensions with North Korea, but the New York Times says "people who have been briefed on the matter" believe he means Iran.
Mr Trump was seen at the White House with his wife Melania, as well as military leaders, after Thursday's meetings but before dinner together. Gesturing at the people around him, he asked the waiting press if they knew "what this represents".
"Maybe it's the calm before the storm," he said."Maybe it's the calm before the storm," he said.
When reporters pressed him on what storm he was referring to, he would only say: "You'll find out." When reporters pressed him on what storm he was referring to, he would only say: "You'll find out."
What storm? He had earlier told his top defence officials he expected them to provide "a broad range of military options... at a much faster pace" in future.
The Trump administration's sights appear to be set on two countries in particular currently: North Korea and Iran. Both involve nuclear programmes, and both were touched on during Thursday's talks with US military leaders. What happens next?
Mr Trump accused Iran of having "not lived up to the spirit of the agreement" brokered with Iran under his predecessor, Barack Obama. US media say the president will announce next Thursday that he will not be certifying the deal on the grounds it does not serve US security interests.
The 2015 accord was designed to prevent Iran developing a nuclear weapon, with the president's administration having to certify to Congress that Iran is upholding its part of the deal every 90 days. This would leave Congress 60 days to decide whether to re-impose sanctions on Iran.
Mr Trump has previously described the deal signed by Iran, the US, the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany as "one of the worst deals I've seen".
US media say the president will announce next Thursday that he would not be certifying the deal on the grounds it does not serve US security interests.
This would leave Congress sixty days to decide whether to re-impose sanctions on Iran.
But some of his top advisers, such as Defence Secretary James Mattis, appear to back the deal.But some of his top advisers, such as Defence Secretary James Mattis, appear to back the deal.
Speaking in the White House's Cabinet Room, President Trump said: "The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence and chaos across the Middle East."Speaking in the White House's Cabinet Room, President Trump said: "The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence and chaos across the Middle East."
"That is why we must put an end to Iran's continued aggression and nuclear ambitions. You will be hearing about Iran very shortly.""That is why we must put an end to Iran's continued aggression and nuclear ambitions. You will be hearing about Iran very shortly."
However, Mr Trump's "storm" could also refer to North Korea, which the US wants to halt its weapons programme. What is the Iran nuclear deal?
Mr Trump has engaged in a war of words with the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, in recent months, threatening to "totally destroy" North Korea during a speech at the UN General Assembly in September. The 2015 accord was designed to prevent Iran developing a nuclear weapon, with the president's administration having to certify to Congress that Iran is upholding its part of the deal every 90 days.
The US wants Pyongyang to halt its weapons programme, which has seen it perform repeated missile tests, as well as claim to have successfully tested a miniaturised hydrogen bomb which could be loaded on to a long-range missile. France, Germany, China, Russia and the UK are also partners in the deal.
On Thursday, Mr Trump's words were more measured. It lifted some sanctions that stopped Iran from trading on international markets and selling oil.
"In North Korea, our goal is denuclearisation," he said. "We cannot allow this dictatorship to threaten our nation or our allies with unimaginable loss of life." The lifting of sanctions is dependent on Iran restricting its nuclear programme. It must restrict its uranium stockpile, build no more heavy-water reactors for 15 years, and allow inspectors in to the country.
"We will do what we must do to prevent that from happening. And it will be done, if necessary, believe me." Mr Trump has repeatedly said Iran has broken the "spirit" of the deal.
In a speech to the UN General Assembly, Mr Trump called the deal, which was brokered while his predecessor Barack Obama was in power, "an embarrassment to the United State".