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Donald Trump to approve Iran nuclear deal for last time – if it isn't changed Donald Trump to approve Iran nuclear deal for last time – if it isn't changed
(35 minutes later)
Despite his hatred of the Iran nuclear deal, President Donald Trump has left the accord intact for now – but has given European allies 120 days to agree to a new deal or the US will pull out. Despite his hatred of the Iran nuclear deal, President Donald Trump has left the accord intact for now – but has given European allies 120 days to agree to a new deal or the US will pull out. 
Mr Trump is waiving nuclear sanctions against Iran for the last time, administration officials said – comments that were quickly followed by a stark warning from the President: “either fix the deal’s disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw.” Mr Trump is waiving nuclear sanctions against Iran for the last time, administration officials said – comments that were quickly followed by a stark warning from the President: “either fix the deal’s disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw.” 
The action is the third time Mr Trump has given a reprieve to the agreement brokered by the Obama administration and other world powers, despite having called it “the worst deal ever”. The action is the third time Mr Trump has given a reprieve to the agreement brokered by the Obama administration and other world powers, despite having called it “the worst deal ever”. 
Mr Trump has also approved sanctions against the head of Iran’s judiciary, Sadeq Larijani, whom the administration holds culpable for the violent crackdown on recent anti-government protests.Mr Trump has also approved sanctions against the head of Iran’s judiciary, Sadeq Larijani, whom the administration holds culpable for the violent crackdown on recent anti-government protests.
Mr Larijani is among 14 individuals and entities that have been sanctioned by the administration for human rights abuses, censorship in Iran and for providing support to Iranian weapons proliferators.  Mr Larijani is among 14 individuals and entities that were sanctioned on Friday by the administration for human rights abuses, censorship in Iran and for providing support to Iranian weapons proliferators. 
Mr Trump said in a statement that he is open to working with Congress on bipartisan legislation regarding Iran.  Mr Trump said in a statement said he is open to working with Congress on bipartisan legislation regarding Iran. 
“But any bill I sign must include four critical components,” he said. “First, it must demand that Iran allow immediate inspections at all sites requested by international inspectors. Second, it must ensure that Iran never even comes close to possessing a nuclear weapon.” “But any bill I sign must include four critical components,” he said. “First, it must demand that Iran allow immediate inspections at all sites requested by international inspectors. Second, it must ensure that Iran never even comes close to possessing a nuclear weapon.” 
He continued: “Third, unlike the nuclear deal, these provisions must have no expiration date. My policy is to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon — not just for ten years, but forever. If Iran does not comply with any of these provisions, American nuclear sanctions would automatically resume. Fourth, the legislation must explicitly state in United States law — for the first time — that long-range missile and nuclear weapons programs are inseparable, and that Iran’s development and testing of missiles should be subject to severe sanctions.” He continued: “Third, unlike the nuclear deal, these provisions must have no expiration date. My policy is to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon — not just for ten years, but forever. If Iran does not comply with any of these provisions, American nuclear sanctions would automatically resume. Fourth, the legislation must explicitly state in United States law — for the first time — that long-range missile and nuclear weapons programs are inseparable, and that Iran’s development and testing of missiles should be subject to severe sanctions.” 
After the President's announcement, Obama officials who helped negotiate the 2015 agreement re-iterated that the accord ensures Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. It is also critical that the US remains part of the deal, they said.  Under the 2015 agreement with six nations, Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear programme for at least 10 years in exchange for the loosening of economic sanctions that had crippled its economy. The signatories of the accord were the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the EU.
After the President’s announcement, Obama officials who helped negotiate the 2015 agreement reiterated that the accord ensures Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. It is also critical that the US remains part of the deal, they said. 
Wendy Sherman, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs during the Obama administration, said on a press call that it would hurt the US’s credibility if Mr Trump doesn’t maintain the agreement. 
A senior Trump administration official said Friday’s decision represents the next step in the strategy that Mr Trump announced last October, when the President said he had chosen not to certify that Tehran was complying with the deal. However, Mr Trump at the time also stopped short of scrapping the accord altogether, saying he wanted his administration to work with Congress and other nations to address the “deal’s many serious flaws”.