UPDATED: Trump says he's reinstating sanctions on Iran and 'will withdraw' from nuclear deal

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico



Trump's decision is likely to exacerbate tensions between his administration and key European allies.

By NAHAL TOOSI and LOUIS NELSON 05/08/2018 07:22 AM EDT Updated 05/08/2018 02:25 PM EDT

UPDATE 2:25 p.m.:

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is reimposing U.S. nuclear sanctions on Iran and will "withdraw" from the Iran nuclear deal, an action that could lead to the collapse of the agreement.

Trump's decision is likely to exacerbate tensions between his administration and key European allies, at a time when the U.S. faces several global challenges, including how to deal with North Korea's nuclear program. The future of the multi-nation agreement on Iran likely depends on which sanctions are reimposed and how quickly.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/08/iran-responds-trump-nuclear-deal-573252

---

UPDATE:

Trump says U.S. pulling out of 'decaying' Iran nuclear deal

Trump's decision is likely to exacerbate tensions between his administration and key European allies.

By NAHAL TOOSI, LOUIS NELSON and CRISTIANO LIMA 05/08/2018 07:22 AM EDT Updated 05/08/2018 02:59 PM EDT

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced his intent to reimpose tough economic sanctions on Iran, dealing a potentially fatal blow to a nuclear agreement struck with Tehran by former President Barack Obama.

“I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal," Trump said in a televised address from the White House. "We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanction."

"The United States no longer makes empty threats," said Trump, who had previously warned he was losing patience with the agreement. "When I make promises, I keep them."

Trump did not offer specific details about the reimposition of sanctions, which are complex. But in a conference call with reporters shortly after the president spoke, his national security adviser, John Bolton, said that "[t]he decision that the president signed today puts sanctions back in place immediately."

more
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/08/iran-responds-trump-nuclear-deal-573252

[Sneederbunk]

1. Fool!

[Left-over]

25. tRump is one dumb SOB!!!!

[Bleacher Creature]

2. This is going to cause lasting damage to our international reputation.

People assume that this can all be fixed if the Democrats take back the WH in 2020, but if I'm a foreign nation I'll never be comfortable assuming that another lunatic won't come in later to muck things up.

And with the Jills Steins and Ralph Naders always showing up at the end of a successful Democratic Presidency, they won't be wrong.

[grantcart]

5. Yes and then the credibility of every US President trying to get an agreement signed will

be undermined.

As with the Climate Accord people will simply think, and they will be correct, that anything the US signs can be undone in the next election.

Our ability to persuade will be hurt for decades.

[still_one]

7. It should be

[KY_EnviroGuy]

31. Especially after Pruitt gets done with the EPA.

We're now no longer the political leader in environmental protection and energy efficiency. I only hope Europe takes the reigns and saves us a place at the table for the future.

The real damage is caused by the U.S. flip-flopping with international and domestic policy between periods of Republican and Democratic control. This is going to be a massive problem domestically with health insurance and immigration for example, and those shifts also set a poor example for our allies. The damage caused by this administration and Republican-controlled Congress will be felt for many decades - even if they both disappeared tomorrow.

........

[harun]

39. Pretty much

[Lonestarblue]

13. Neither allies nor enemies can count on us to keep our word.

Our international reputation is already in tatters, and this just makes it worse. No country should believe that any agreement will hold when the next president can just tear it up for no good reason. Nearly three-quarters of Arab youths now believe that the U.S. is their enemy, and most trust Russia more than the U.S. In less than two years, Trump has destroyed the global leadership role of the U.S. and is well on the way to destroying significant parts of the economy with his ridiculous approach to changing trade with China. I cannot imagine what we will have left after two more years of this buffoon (and no I don’t think he will be impeached—at most Democrats can take a one-person majority in the Senate so not enough to impeach).

[bdamomma]

3. he is such an arrogant POS

and is causing so much havoc because he doesn't know shit.

[still_one]

4. It will be interesting and f the European allies tell the US to f**k off

It will be interesting if this pushes Russia and China closer to Iran

It will be interesting if his base still backs him after this

[bearsfootball516]

6. His base loves this, it was one of the reasons they voted for him

[still_one]

9. I don't think so. I think they are isolationists, along with being racist, sexist, bigots

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. This is an isolationist move as well

It tries to stop trade with Iran too. And if European companies trade with Iran anyway, their operations in the USA will get fined, shut down or whatever. If European states want to combat that, they'll have to put sanctions on US companies.

And the ideology behind it is "never agree treaties with other countries; always treat them as opponents, even the friendly ones".

[still_one]

22. Good point, I was thinking in a from a different perspective, but I agree with you

[KY_EnviroGuy]

32. This move may well add fuel to the trade war fire. n/t

[suffragette]

36. Great point. You should post as an OP.

These are important consequences.

[llmart]

34. Of course his base will love it...

because they are isolationists. They truly believe that the US is so great that we don't need any allies. We can do it all on our own. These are simple minded people with absolutely zero understanding of the world outside of their own backyard.

[Timmygoat]

10. Anyone else notice

That everyone talking about this has an opinion that Bolton pushed for it, they say Bolton is a war hawk.
It seems ironic that Bolton and Trump were both draft dodgers during Viet Nam.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

12. His base is universally stupid. I bet 90% of them can't point to Iran on a map

nor spell it correctly.

Trump is single-handedly ruining America's standing in the world. It's going to take decades to undo the damage he's done in the first 17 months of his administration. A reputation, once lost, takes forever to rebuild. And there's always doubt on the other side whether you'll keep your word.

[harun]

40. His base will eat this up. Anything undoing progress made by Obama they want.

No matter the cost.

[Chickensoup]

8. Our brilliant leader.

In my opinion, he may have lit
the fuse of Armageddon.
I hope and pray I am wrong. Read
all about in the bible .

[Girard442]

11. Betcha the sales brochures from N Korea & Pakistan on the way already.

Getcher nukes, before it’s too late.

[Scurrilous]

14. Idiocracy, we are here.

[benld74]

15. ALL planned and calculated ever since Bolton and new State head took a seat

POS
Moron

[FarPoint]

16. Bolton is setting up a War...

Trump's wet dream role....to profit from a War with his name on it.

[bronxiteforever]

17. This isn't even a plan. No coherent strategy.

Just foreign policy made up by a senior citizen fox viewer(redundant I know) sitting on the toilet.
It is an absolute joke.

[47of74]

18. If I could I'd permanetly move away tomorrow.

[Jedi Guy]

38. Not gonna lie...

I'm super glad I moved to Canada. I can't claim I foresaw the rise of Trump since I moved up here five years ago, but I give thanks every day that I live in a sane country.

Still, it is awkward being an American living abroad. The day after the election, I had to try to explain to my friends at work how this calamity happened. And every day I look at the things Trump says and does and it's just humiliating that this madman is the leader of my homeland.

[Vinca]

20. If only Obama hadn't told those jokes at the correspondent's dinner.

That's what this is all about. Don doesn't care about Iran, he cares about his wounded ego and getting revenge by eliminating the success of the Obama administration.

[Botany]

21. Trump has no idea what is in the agreement and what it is about.

Trump has no idea what is in the Iranian agreement and what it is about.


It was written by and signed off on by Iran, the UK, France, Germany, Russia, China and the U.S..
America can drop out but it will stay in effect as longer as the other nations stick to it.

It allows anytime anywhere access in Iran to inspect for any violations of the agreement and those
inspections are under the purview of the IAEA and not the United States and or any other nation.


BTW the main person behind the agreement is Ernie Moniz who if he is not the best in the world at
understanding the issues involved then the # of people who are as good or better is pretty damn
short list.

Ernie's bio:

Dr. Ernest Moniz served as United States Secretary of Energy from May 21, 2013 to January 19, 2017. As Secretary of Energy, he was tasked with implementing critical Department of Energy missions in support of President Obama’s goals of growing the economy, enhancing security and protecting the environment. This encompassed advancing the President’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, maintaining the nuclear deterrent and reducing the nuclear danger, promoting American leadership in science and clean energy technology innovation, cleaning up the legacy of the cold war, and strengthening management and performance.

Prior to his appointment, Dr. Moniz was the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he was a faculty member since 1973. At MIT, he headed the Department of Physics and the Bates Linear Accelerator Center. Most recently, Dr. Moniz served as the founding Director of the MIT Energy Initiative and as Director of the MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment where he was a leader of multidisciplinary technology and policy studies on the future of nuclear power, coal, nuclear fuel cycles, natural gas and solar energy in a low-carbon world.

From 1997 until January 2001, Dr. Moniz served as Under Secretary of the Department of Energy. He was responsible for overseeing the Department’s science and energy programs, leading a comprehensive review of nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship, and serving as the Secretary’s special negotiator for the disposition of Russian nuclear materials. From 1995 to 1997, he served as Associate Director for Science in the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President.


snip

Dr. Moniz received a Bachelor of Science degree summa cum laude in Physics from Boston College, a Doctorate in Theoretical Physics from Stanford University, and honorary degrees from the University of Athens, Boston College, Boston University, the University of Erlangen-Nurenberg, Iowa State University, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Michigan State University and Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. He has been awarded the Distinguished Public Service Medal of the Department of Defense, and the Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator.

https://www.energy.gov/contributors/dr-ernest-moniz

[bluescribbler]

23. You think Kim Jong Un has great expectations re: his "summit" with #45?

Perhaps they'll reach an agreement, but Kim won't trust the US to keep our side of the deal, and there's no reason he should.

[muriel_volestrangler]

24. Statement from British, French and German governments:

Our governments remain committed to ensuring the agreement is upheld, and will work with all the remaining parties to the deal to ensure this remains the case including through ensuring the continuing economic benefits to the Iranian people that are linked to the agreement.

We urge the US to ensure that the structures of the JCPoA can remain intact, and to avoid taking action which obstructs its full implementation by all other parties to the deal. After engaging with the US Administration in a thorough manner over the past months, we call on the US to do everything possible to preserve the gains for nuclear non-proliferation brought about by the JCPoA, by allowing for a continued enforcement of its main elements.

We encourage Iran to show restraint in response to the decision by the US; Iran must continue to meet its own obligations under the deal, cooperating fully and in a timely manner with IAEA inspection requirements. The IAEA must be able to continue to carry out its long-term verification and monitoring programme without restriction or hindrance. In turn, Iran should continue to receive the sanctions relief it is entitled to whilst it remains in compliance with the terms of the deal.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/may/08/iran-nuclear-deal-donald-trump-latest-live-updates?page=with:block-5af1f7d4e4b05a463ca1dd1b#block-5af1f7d4e4b05a463ca1dd1b

[AKing]

26. Only thing missing in that speech was "Yellow Cake Uranium"...

Same beating of the drum that led to the Iraq war.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. What a fuckin' idiot!!! WWIII is now a certainty.

[Blue_Tires]

28. Shit is starting to get real:

@yeh1a
Follow Follow @yeh1a
More
Iranian president Rouhani: "Iran will be conferring with the world's two super powers, Russia and China"

3:46 PM - 8 May 2018
85 replies 494 retweets 486 likes
Reply 85 Retweet 494 Like 486 Direct message


The Associated Press
?@AP
Follow Follow @AP
More
BREAKING: Syrian TV reports Israeli airstrike near the capital Damascus, says air defenses shot down two missiles.

5:04 PM - 8 May 2018
70 replies 615 retweets 289 likes
Reply 70 Retweet 615 Like 289 Direct message

[sinkingfeeling]

29. He has succeeded in destroying America in the eyes of the world.

We are now a second rate player on the world stage.

[RDANGELO]

30. Hopefully, the Iranians will do nothing and wait out the Trump presidency

anticipating that he will not be reelected.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

33. Good thread to watch from Europe...

From the BBC...
(This is a continuously updated web page so it's worthwhile to re-check it often.)
See: http://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-us-canada-44032008

(snips)

Companies doing business in Iran will be allowed up to 180 days to end contracts or face "severe consequences"

Yevgeny Serebrennikov, first deputy head of the defence and security committee in the Russian Upper House of Parliament, told the RIA news agency that Trump's decision puts the Korean peace process in doubt.

"Without the JCPOA, the United States could eventually be left with a losing choice between a nuclear-armed Iran or another war in the Middle East," warns Obama.

If they drank champagne in Saudi Arabia they would have been clinking glasses in Riyadh over President Trump’s decision to pull out of the nuclear deal with Tehran.

It means Saudi's biggest regional rival gets a financial kicking and Saudi Arabia gets to cash the cheque because the move is bound to spike oil prices.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron emphasised their "continuing commitment" to the deal in a joint statement.

................

[KY_EnviroGuy]

35. Opinion: Could withdrawing from the Iran deal bring down Trump?

"A spike in oil prices could cause a recession"

Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/could-withdrawing-from-the-iran-deal-bring-down-trump-2018-05-08

(snip)

It’s nowhere near certain that the president who appointed Scott Pruitt to run the Environmental Protection Agency as a wholly owned subsidiary of the petroleum industry will blunder into a recession by tightening world markets in an ego-driven move to undo a treaty signed by President Barack Obama.

But Trump’s drive to undo the Iran deal has already been showing up in oil prices, and hurting standards of living. If it helps end the expansion before he faces voters in 2020, it will be a witty, if cruel, irony far beyond our benighted leader’s capacity to grasp.

.......

[JCMach1]

37. When do we find out about the Saudi and UAE payments?

Not