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US President Donald Trump on Friday said his administration “cannot and will not“ certify Tehran’s compliance with the Iran nuclear agreement to Congress. as he laid out the new US strategy on Iran that was rooted in rhetoric and short on substance. Trump. from the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room. announced the US will remain in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached under Obama in 2015. but he will not certify to Congress that Iran is in compliance under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. CBS News reported.
“Based on the factual record that I have put forward. I am announcing today that we cannot and will not make this certification.“ Trump said. “I am directing my administration to work closely with Congress and our allies to address the deal’s many serious flaws so that the Iranian [government] can never threaten the world with nuclear weapons [an objective that Tehran says has never pursued and will never pursue].“
That move. the administration hopes. will prompt Congress to take additional legislative action to amend INARA. The US president hopes Congress will take additional legislative actions to strengthen INARA and address Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities. and he hopes other nations in the JCPOA will take additional steps to address other aspects of Iranian activities.
Trump said key members of Congress are already working to amend INARA. as they have roughly 90 days before the next certification period.
But. if Congress and ally nations cannot reach an agreement. the Iran deal “will be terminated“. Trump said.
Earlier in the day. the Iranian Foreign Ministry outlined Tehran’s response to the new US strategy. which indicates Washington’s decision to ratchet up hostility toward the Islamic Republic.
In a Friday statement carried by IRNA. the Foreign Ministry stressed that Iran will “seriously“ pursue its plan to bolster its defense capability and that any decision in this regard will be made “only based on national security considerations and national interest.“
It underlined that “any move against Iranian armed forces. including the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. will meet Iran’s proportionate and firm reaction.“
On the US failure to fulfill its obligations under the nuclear accord. the statement said. “Iran has a wide range of options and if the need arises. it is even ready to stop implementing all its commitments [under the nuclear deal].“
