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Iran nuclear deal: Trump reportedly to withdraw US from agreement – live updates Iran deal: Trump reportedly to withdraw US from nuclear agreement – live
(35 minutes later)
Jason Rezaian, the Iranian-American journalist jailed in Iran for one and a half years, warned that the US withdrawal from the JCPOA could have serious consequences for Americans jailed in Iran.
Rezaian, an opinion writer for the Washington Post, said his release was “tangentially” related to the nuclear deal negotiations.
“The knowledge that without those negotiations I might never have been released from prison in Iran and I might still be there right now brings it home for me very sharply,” he said.
If the deal is pulled apart, Rezaian said it would close the main route for diplomatic conversations between the US and Iran.
“If we don’t have those avenues for negotiations the Americans that are stuck in prison right now might be stuck there for a very long time.”
If the New York Times reporting is correct and Trump reinstates all the suspended sanctions and then slap on some additional penalties, it will be removing any ambiguity and nuance from the US position.
It will be on the extreme end of the spectrum of US options – a deliberate and radical abrogation of the deal, which will have an immediate impact on the decisions of companies around the world, forcing them to choose between doing business in Iran or in the US. Any corporation dependent on raising project finance on New York money markets is likely to flee Iran.
It also forces European allies to decide between continuing the current policy of humouring and appeasing Trump while trying to cajole him, or to take stand against his policies, spending a lot of money trying protect European countries from US sanctions, and retaliating against Washington with trade restrictions.
It will be harder for the EU to try to keep the JCPOA deal going without the US.
In Iran, such an aggressive move would embolden hardliners who long predicted the US would betray the deal, and are pressing for a decisive response, such as reviving uranium enrichment, restricting access to inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, or even withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Early reactions are pouring in after the New York Times reported the US is planning to withdrawal from the Iran deal, reinstate all sanctions an introduce additional penalties.
While Trump was expected to pull out of the deal, he could have taken a softer approach, as the US’s European allies were encouraging him to do in the days leading up to the decision.
The French president’s office has denied the Times report, which was sourced to a call between Macron and Trump.
Security experts, however, say if there is a reinstatement of sanctions, it could devastate European efforts to mitigate the impact of the US withdrawal.
Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at Arms Control Now, called the move “dangerous and irresponsible.”
By violating & withdrawing from be #IranDeal, Trump is manufacturing a nuclear crisis that the international community cannot afford. This is a dangerous & irresponsible move https://t.co/tFWwSRKwvH
Michael Horowitz, geopolitical and security analyst at consultancy group Le Beck International, said the Times reporting suggested a “hard” exit.
By re-implementing all sanctions Trump may further torpedo any effort by Europe to mitigate the impact of the withdrawal #Iran
With Trump poised to pull the US out of the landmark Iranian nuclear agreement, the Guardian has a video explainer on the details of the JCPOA.With Trump poised to pull the US out of the landmark Iranian nuclear agreement, the Guardian has a video explainer on the details of the JCPOA.
Trump told French president Emmanuel Macron this morning that the US will withdraw from the agreement, a person briefed on a call between the two leaders told the New York Times.Trump told French president Emmanuel Macron this morning that the US will withdraw from the agreement, a person briefed on a call between the two leaders told the New York Times.
The US will reinstate all sanctions it had waived as part of the Iran nuclear agreement and impose new economic penalties, according to the Times.The US will reinstate all sanctions it had waived as part of the Iran nuclear agreement and impose new economic penalties, according to the Times.
The Guardian has not independently confirmed the details of the report.The Guardian has not independently confirmed the details of the report.
But an official in Paris denied the report, saying the US president did not inform Emmanuel Macron of his final decision in their phone conversation on Tuesday.But an official in Paris denied the report, saying the US president did not inform Emmanuel Macron of his final decision in their phone conversation on Tuesday.
Macron’s office stood by its earlier announcement that the US and French president on Tuesday “discussed matters relating to peace and stability in the Middle East”.Macron’s office stood by its earlier announcement that the US and French president on Tuesday “discussed matters relating to peace and stability in the Middle East”.
The Elysée communiqué on Tuesday had made no specific mention of Iran.The Elysée communiqué on Tuesday had made no specific mention of Iran.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, said on Tuesday ahead of Trump’s decision: “If Trump today makes the mistake and kills what was an achievement both for Iran and for them, he will never be able to reach even such an agreement, this is a reality,”Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, said on Tuesday ahead of Trump’s decision: “If Trump today makes the mistake and kills what was an achievement both for Iran and for them, he will never be able to reach even such an agreement, this is a reality,”
Zarif continued: “From their point of view, Iran entered the talks from a very bad position… they tried to take the hope away from our people, they had asked them not to participate in the elections, they were told that their votes won’t be counted, that elections are decided beforehand, [but] 73% of these people went to the ballot box in 2013 [When Rouhani was elected] and they rejected their wishes... this is what took them to negotiating table. Today is the same, we have the same power, if Mr Trump makes this mistake and kills this international achievement, it will be even worse and he will be forced to accept Iranian people’s rights.”Zarif continued: “From their point of view, Iran entered the talks from a very bad position… they tried to take the hope away from our people, they had asked them not to participate in the elections, they were told that their votes won’t be counted, that elections are decided beforehand, [but] 73% of these people went to the ballot box in 2013 [When Rouhani was elected] and they rejected their wishes... this is what took them to negotiating table. Today is the same, we have the same power, if Mr Trump makes this mistake and kills this international achievement, it will be even worse and he will be forced to accept Iranian people’s rights.”
Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, said Iran won’t stand idly by if Trump scuttles the agreement.Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, said Iran won’t stand idly by if Trump scuttles the agreement.
“Trump and the US government are pursuing three parallel policies in regards to Barjam,” he said, referring to Persian acronyms for the nuclear deal. “First, they want to make it redundant, second, to have excessive demands and third, to kill the agreement.”“Trump and the US government are pursuing three parallel policies in regards to Barjam,” he said, referring to Persian acronyms for the nuclear deal. “First, they want to make it redundant, second, to have excessive demands and third, to kill the agreement.”
Shamkhani said Europeans will see “a bigger loss” if they succumb to Trump and attempt to extract more concessions to appease the US president.Shamkhani said Europeans will see “a bigger loss” if they succumb to Trump and attempt to extract more concessions to appease the US president.
Iran president Hassan Rouhani has a televised speech scheduled for after Trump’s announcement.Iran president Hassan Rouhani has a televised speech scheduled for after Trump’s announcement.
Donald Trump is set to announce whether the US will remain in the Iran nuclear deal at the White House at 2pm ET this afternoon.Donald Trump is set to announce whether the US will remain in the Iran nuclear deal at the White House at 2pm ET this afternoon.
Trump has repeatedly railed against the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which he deemed “the worst deal ever.”Trump has repeatedly railed against the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which he deemed “the worst deal ever.”
European leaders have been warning the US president about how a withdrawal could harm diplomatic efforts with Iran, but Trump on Tuesday morning told French president Emmanuel Macron that the US plans to withdraw, according to a report in the New York Times.European leaders have been warning the US president about how a withdrawal could harm diplomatic efforts with Iran, but Trump on Tuesday morning told French president Emmanuel Macron that the US plans to withdraw, according to a report in the New York Times.
The Guardian will be providing news and reaction the announcement, as well as analysis from Guardian journalists including world affairs editor Julian Borger, who reported this weekend on an effort by private Israeli intelligence firms to discredit national security officials instrumental in reaching the landmark agreement.The Guardian will be providing news and reaction the announcement, as well as analysis from Guardian journalists including world affairs editor Julian Borger, who reported this weekend on an effort by private Israeli intelligence firms to discredit national security officials instrumental in reaching the landmark agreement.
If you need more details on the basics of the Iran nuclear deal, the Guardian’s Iran correspondent Saeed Kamali Dehghan has the details here:If you need more details on the basics of the Iran nuclear deal, the Guardian’s Iran correspondent Saeed Kamali Dehghan has the details here:
And here’s diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour’s preview of today’s announcement:And here’s diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour’s preview of today’s announcement: