Washington
The extensions of the waivers on nuclear sanctions, first issued by the Obama administration, were accompanied by new penalties imposed against 11 Iranian people and companies accused of supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program or involvement in cyber-attacks against the U.S. financial system.
The combination of steps, known internally as “waive and slap,” came as the administration nears completion of a monthslong review of its Iran policy that is expected next month, perhaps as early as Oct. 15, when Trump must inform Congress if Iran is complying with the terms of the nuclear agreement and whether the deal remains in U.S. national security interests.
In comments to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump repeated his campaign pronouncement that the deal is bad and again said he believes Iran is violating its terms and spirit.
“The Iran deal is one of the worst deals I’ve ever seen,” he said. “Not a fair deal to this country. It’s a deal that should have never ever been made. You’ll see what we’re doing … it’s going to be in October.”
“We are not going to stand for what they are doing to this country,” Trump said. “They have violated so many elements but they have also violated the spirit of that deal.”
Speaking in London at a joint news conference with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson., Tillerson told reporters the administration’s approach to Iran could not be determined on the basis of the nuclear accord alone.