{"id":57774,"date":"2017-09-20T20:57:31","date_gmt":"2017-09-20T20:57:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/09\/20\/i-have-decided-trump-says-of-iran-deal-before-big-talks\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:27:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:27:14","slug":"i-have-decided-trump-says-of-iran-deal-before-big-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/09\/20\/i-have-decided-trump-says-of-iran-deal-before-big-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I have decided,\u2019 Trump says of Iran deal \u2015 before big talks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEW YORK \u2014 \u201cI have decided,\u201d President Donald Trump declared Wednesday, announcing he\u2019d reached a verdict on the Iran nuclear deal\u2019s future even as top U.S. and Iranian officials headed into their highest-level talks of his presidency. Iran\u2019s leader, meanwhile, lashed out at \u201cignorant, absurd and hateful rhetoric\u201d in response to Trump\u2019s blistering attack at the U.N.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The jabbing between Trump and Iran\u2019s President Hassan Rouhani set the stage for a contentious meeting of the nuclear accord\u2019s parties. Trump has sent strong signals that he could walk away from the seven-nation agreement, which would potentially lead to new U.S. sanctions on Iran and its international trading partners. The Iranians, in turn, have threatened to respond to any U.S. pullout by restarting nuclear activities that could take them closer to bomb-making capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked about his stance on the nuclear pact Wednesday, Trump said he had made a decision. Pressed for details, he replied coyly: \u201cI\u2019ll let you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly afterward, Vice President Mike Pence told the U.N. Security Council that Iran \u201ccontinues to flout the spirit of the Iran deal, destabilizing the region and brazenly threatening the security of sovereign nations,\u201d a toned-down version of the diatribe delivered by Trump in a General Assembly speech to fellow world leaders Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t clear if Trump had made a final decision to leave or stick with the Iran deal. On several other issues over his presidency, he has teased reporters with the idea that a major verdict might be imminent, only to delay announcements for weeks or months. Trump must next certify by Oct. 15 if Iran is complying with the deal, and officials have said Trump may use that occasion to declare Iran in violation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In any event, the U.S.-Iranian exchanges augured poorly for Wednesday\u2019s gathering of diplomats including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. A year ago, such a get-together would have been considered routine as nations strove to implement an agreement that curtailed Iran\u2019s nuclear activity in exchange for an end to various oil, trade and financial restrictions on the country. In the current environment, it is anything but ordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing the General Assembly, Rouhani said his country won\u2019t be the first to violate the nuclear agreement, \u201cbut it will respond decisively to its violation by any party.\u201d In a dismissive jab at Trump he said, \u201cIt will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by rogue newcomers to the world of politics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy violating its international commitments, the new U.S. administration only destroys its own credibility and undermines international confidence in negotiating with it or accepting its word or promise,\u201d Rouhani said. That echoes criticism even some of America\u2019s allies have leveled at a time when the United States hopes to draw North Korea into a negotiation over its rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal.<\/p>\n\n\n\t