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Trump to approve Iran nuclear deal for last time | Trump to approve Iran nuclear deal for last time |
(35 minutes later) | |
US President Donald Trump says he is extending sanctions relief for Iran one last time so Europe and the US can fix the nuclear deal's "terrible flaws". | |
The waiver he will sign suspends US sanctions on Iran for another 120 days. | |
The White House wants a deal with EU signatories to make restrictions on Iran's uranium enrichment permanent. Under the current deal they are set to expire in 2025. | The White House wants a deal with EU signatories to make restrictions on Iran's uranium enrichment permanent. Under the current deal they are set to expire in 2025. |
Mr Trump also wants Iran's ballistic missile programme to be addressed. | Mr Trump also wants Iran's ballistic missile programme to be addressed. |
"This is a last chance," the US president said in a statement on Friday. "In the absence of such an agreement, the United States will not again waive sanctions in order to stay in the Iran nuclear deal. | |
"And if at any time I judge that such an agreement is not within reach, I will withdraw from the deal immediately." | |
Also on Friday, the US imposed separate sanctions against 14 individuals and entities it accuses of rights abuses, censorship and support for weapons proliferators. | |
Independent of the nuclear deal, the US still maintains sanctions on Iran on matters such as terrorism, human rights and ballistic missile development. | |
The landmark accord was signed between six global powers and Iran in 2015. | |
It saw Iran agree to reduce uranium enrichment activity drastically, dispose of its enriched uranium stocks and modify a heavy water facility so it could not produce material suitable for a nuclear bomb. | |
In return, decades of international and US nuclear-related sanctions were suspended, and the US president must sign a waiver suspending them every 120 days. | In return, decades of international and US nuclear-related sanctions were suspended, and the US president must sign a waiver suspending them every 120 days. |
But Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised the deal - reached under his predecessor Barack Obama - as "the worst ever". | |
"This is the last time he'll issue waivers unless they reach an agreement," senior White House officials said. | "This is the last time he'll issue waivers unless they reach an agreement," senior White House officials said. |
BBC state department correspondent Barbara Plett Usher says no international agreement can be negotiated in 120 days. | |
She says Iran is not interested in brokering a new deal, so Mr Trump will have either to back down or walk away. | |
European powers say the accord - known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - is vital for international security. | European powers say the accord - known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - is vital for international security. |
In its most recent quarterly review, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global nuclear body, said Iran was complying with its terms. | |
Meanwhile an Iranian politician said Iran "will not mourn" if the US pulls out of the nuclear deal. | Meanwhile an Iranian politician said Iran "will not mourn" if the US pulls out of the nuclear deal. |
First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri said in a post on his Instagram page that the US would "lose out" if they withdrew from the deal. | First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri said in a post on his Instagram page that the US would "lose out" if they withdrew from the deal. |
Iran says the missiles it has tested are not designed to carry nuclear warheads and insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. | Iran says the missiles it has tested are not designed to carry nuclear warheads and insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. |