Trump Recertifies Iran Nuclear Deal, but Only Reluctantly

NY Times ^ | July 17, 2017 | Peter Baker

[lowbridge]

President Trump agreed on Monday to certify again that Iran is complying with an international nuclear agreement that he has strongly criticized, but only after hours of arguing with his top national security advisers, briefly upending a planned announcement as a legal deadline loomed.

Mr. Trump has repeatedly condemned the deal brokered by President Barack Obama as a dangerous capitulation to Iran, but six months into his presidency he has not abandoned it. The decision on Monday was the second time his administration certified Iran’s compliance, and aides said a frustrated Mr. Trump had told his security team that he would not keep doing so indefinitely.

Administration officials announced the certification on Monday evening while emphasizing that they intended to toughen enforcement of the deal, apply new sanctions on Iran for its support of terrorism and other destabilizing activities, and negotiate with European partners to craft a broader strategy to increase pressure on Tehran. Aides said Mr. Trump had insisted on such actions before agreeing to the consensus recommendation of his national security team.

“The president has made very clear that he thought this was a bad deal — a bad deal for the United States,” Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, told reporters at a briefing on Monday before the decision was made.

[lowbridge]

Since this is the ny times, I'm wondering how much of it is true.

[MarvinStinson]

Exactly my thought.

[buckalfa]

I believe the article is correct, too many news outlets are reporting it. I also believe the President is having to prioritize between North Korea, ISIS, and Iran. That, and the other agreement nations I am sure are happy to keep kicking the Iran problem down the road instead of renewing confrontation.

[MountainWalker]

Hussein also gave the Mullahs everything they wanted up front, so backing out now is sort of like leaving the car on the lot after you already paid.

[Paladin2]

The whole “agreement” is totally illegal.

[ETL]

Obama allowing Iran to purchase uranium from Russia

Daniel Horowitz | January 10, 2017

Remember those side deals Obama forged with Iran that were not part of the text of the official treaty? Now we are finding out some of the details.

Yesterday, the Washington Free Beacon reported that Iranian officials confirmed they have received at least $10 billion in cash, commodities, and assets from Washington since 2013. And that is likely a conservative estimate.

But cash is not the only thing the Islamic Republic of Iran is receiving for gracing us with their willingness to sign onto our own capitulation.

The AP is reporting that Russia, with the support of President Obama, is shipping Iran 116 metric tons of natural uranium.

While Iranian officials have obviously declined to disclose the use of such uranium, AP notes that this is enough to enrich weapons-grade uranium for nuclear bombs:

“Despite present restrictions on its enrichment program, however, the amount of natural uranium is significant should Iran decide to keep it in storage, considering its potential uses once some limits on Tehran’s nuclear activities start to expire in less than a decade.

David Albright, whose Institute of Science and International Security often briefs U.S. lawmakers on Iran’s nuclear program, says the shipment could be enriched to enough weapons-grade uranium for more than 10 simple nuclear bombs, “depending on the efficiency of the enrichment process and the design of the nuclear weapon.” ...”

See more at:
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2017/01/obama-allowing-iran-to-purchase-uranium-from-russia-will-tillerson-reverse-course#sthash.guYPvONI.dpuf

____________________________________________________________________

Aug 2015

___________________________________________________

From Real Clear Politics, Sept 10, 2015...

"In a 2014 New Yorker interview, Obama said his goal was to create a 'new equilibrium' in the Middle East.

In the short run, at least, his signature diplomatic undertaking can be counted on to bring more violence to this volatile region.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the [Obama-Putin Iran deal] agreement is formally known, provides the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism an infusion of somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 billion of unfrozen assets and a great deal more of continuing revenues as businesses and governments around the world rush to profit from oil-and-gas-rich Iran's reintegration into the world economy.

The agreement relaxes the international isolation of the Islamic Republic and ratifies Tehran's status as a nuclear threshold state. And it relieves restrictions on Iran's acquisition of weapons, including ballistic missiles. ..."

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/09/10/iran_deal_throws_sparks_on_mideast_tinderbox_128034.html

[Moonman62]

I can tell they are putting the worst possible spin on it.

[ZULU]

Eill have to see. The only thing we should be certifying is a nuke to Tehran.

[4Runner]

I believe the article is correct, too many news outlets are reporting it. I also believe the President is having to prioritize between North Korea, ISIS, and Iran.

I'll bet you also believe in the tooth fairy. Trump is reneging on just about EVERY campaign position he took. You cult of personality people just don't get it.

What I don't understand is why the left and the MSM continue to vilify Trump, when for the past six months, with the exception of the Comey firing, he's been doing EXACTLY what Clinton would have done had she been elected.

Look at the abysmal AG we now have. Neutered himself on Russia. Petrified of going after Democrat wrongdoing. Praising the Bundy prosecution. We've been pussified.

The only ones with balls are the anarchists on the left. They're street fighting and willing to spill blood for their beliefs as sick as those are. All WE can do is play by Marquis of Queensbury Rules and get our asses kicked again and again on a daily basis.

Flame away boys and girls.

[4Runner]

Oh. I forgot to mention, this isn’t the Trump Administration. It’s the Jivanka Administration.

Wake up, people.

[buckalfa]

"I'll bet you also believe in the tooth fairy. Trump is reneging on just about EVERY campaign position he took. You cult of personality people just don't get it."

To an extent, I agree with you. I do not like Trump the man. I do not worship at his altar. I supported his agenda during the election and have also been disappointed by many of his actions versus his words as Preident. Yet he still represents our best(only?) chance to keep the nation from devolution into a South Africa. Can we afford not to support him?

[billyboy15]

I won’t flame you but your screed does indicate you have a bare bones if any at all knowledge of how certain things MUST work at this time in DC.

Trump has not been president for 6 months and yet you seem to blame him for the failings (so far) of the other elected Republicans whose job it is to help him. The President is NOT a dictator and cannot except on a limited basis impose his will.

The first steps to building the wall have demonstrably begun in Texas and even before that the number of illegals crossing the border has dropped by over 60% while those being deported has risen. The cleaning up of MS13 has shown real results. Things are indeed happening but you seem to be held prisoner by the media non stop attacks and attempts to discredit all Trump does.

Six months, he has been in office less than SIX MONTHS and informed people would realize that the great majority of that time in any Admin. is concerned with Cabinet appointments (all slow walked by the Liberals, an simply learning about the job.

You sound very much like a never Trumper or even worse.v

[wiseprince]

Hahaha. Ok I’ll bite. Paris Accord. Not a politician on Earth would have done what Trump did under the same circumstances let alone Hillary

[KyCats]

>>Mr. Trump has repeatedly condemned the deal brokered by President Barack Obama as a dangerous capitulation to Iran, but six months into his presidency he has not abandoned it. The decision on Monday was the second time his administration certified Iran’s compliance<<

Here’s the point of the story. Laying the ground work to absolve Obama of responsibility when this deal turns out to be a global disaster of biblical proportions. It will all be Trump’s fault for continuing to certify compliance.

[Wisconsinlady]

I just saw this on Fox news. I absolutely do not understand why Trump certified this 2015 Iran nuke deal, when he told us it was a bad deal and he would nullify it. Anyone? I am becoming so cynical. Not just the dems, but the pubbies too

[Wisconsinlady]

I totally agree. It reminds me of the quote from Orwell's Animal Farm. “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” ― George Orwell, Animal Farm

[4Runner]

You sound very much like a never Trumper or even worse.v

Sorry to disappoint you but I worked the phone bank online most weeknights for Trump in Hillsborough County Florida in the months leading up to the election. I took a lot of s**t on the phone from the people down here in this sanctuary county who were all for Clinton. Also worked as a precinct inspector on November 8 in Hillsborough County FL and stood helpless as I had to issue ballots to illegal after illegal as long as their drivers licenses showed up in the system. They didn't even speak or read English. Damned motor voter BS. Also got repeatedly sideswiped on the road because of the Trump stickers on my truck. It was a rough day. So, NO. Not a never-Trumper here kiddo. BTW what the hell were YOU doing on November 8 to help Trump that I wasn't doing?

[billyboy15]

Well I was voting for him. I live in NJ, what would you have me do.

Besides I said you SOUNDED like a Never Trumper, if you say you are not then fine.