World\Americas

Trump sets new conditions for Iran nuclear deal

chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2017-10-14 04:00

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will not re-certify the Iran nuclear deal because the country is not living up to the spirit of the deal and has committed "multiple violations", the Associated Press reported on Friday.

Trump said during a White House speech that he "cannot and will not make this certification". He said he is directing his administration to work closely with Congress to address the deal's "many flaws" and to make sure the country can never threaten the US with nuclear weapons.

Trump said that if Congress can't come up with new legislation, he will terminate the Obama-era pact, according to the AP.

However, Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani said any US move against the deal with Iran would be an insult to the United Nations. He spoke during a visit to Russia hours before Trump was expected to deliver a speech harshly criticizing the 2015 accord, according to the AP.

The agreement offered Iran relief from crippling economic sanctions in exchange for strict limits on its nuclear program. It was negotiated by then-President Barack Obama's administration and involved a coalition of world powers, including the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Friday that the Iran nuclear deal is a robust agreement that is working and cannot be terminated by any leader, including Trump.

Mogherini said the accord "is a robust deal that provides guarantees and a strong monitoring mechanism so that Iran’s nuclear program is, and will remain, exclusively for civilian purposes only," the AP reported.