Trump Reportedly Promised Netanyahu He Will Leave Iran Deal Unless ‘Significant Changes’ Are Made
President Donald Trump reportedly informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US will not be flexible with European powers in negotiating changes to the stipulations and limitations around Iran’s nuclear program.
According to Axios, senior Israeli officials claim the president will not work with Germany, France, and the United Kingdom on the Iran deal unless harder measures are taken to ensure the Middle Eastern country does not obtain nuclear weapons by his May 12th deadline to change the agreement.
Axios reported the following today:
“The officials say Trump told Netanyahu that until now the three European powers only proposed ‘cosmetic changes’ that he doesn’t find satisfactory. Trump said he demands ‘significant changes’ in the Iran deal itself and not simply the addition of a supplemental agreement between the U.S. and the European countries, according to the officials.”
Additionally, Trump threatened to pull-out of the Iran deal — a threat he has repeatedly made throughout his tenure as president and a candidate — if the steps he is proposing are not taken. While the claims were made anonymously, The White House and Israeli officials did not refute Axios reporting when asked for comment.
Vice President Mike Pence echoed these concerns at AIPAC — the leading annual pro-Israel gathering in America — this month:
“President Trump has called on the Congress and our European allies to enact real and lasting restraints on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions. Earlier this year, the President waived sanctions to give our lawmakers and our allies time to act. But make no mistake about it: This is their last chance. Unless the Iran nuclear deal is fixed in the coming months, the United States of America will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal immediately. “
[image via screengrab]
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