Trump throws a fit to Iran

Categorising the Obama-era policy toward Iran as disastrous, US President Donald Trump is all set to declare that the deal is not in USA's national interest while stopping just short of recommending renewed nuclear sanctions. The deliberations clearly indicate the extent to which Trump's national security team, in recent months, has been occupied with navigating the future of the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump repeatedly vowed to throw out as a "disaster", during the campaign. The sometimes angry internal debate also provides another illustration of the way in which Trump's gut impulses and desire for dramatic action have often collided with the subtlety of international diplomacy. For Trump, the Iran agreement, brokered by President Barack Obama, was never designed to do several things. And, many of his advisers, besides the Republican leaders and key US allies, also see it as a valuable tool in stopping an Iranian nuclear bomb. Since he doesn't appear to certify the Iran deal, for more domestic reasons than international ones, he would also not certify any piece of the Obama strategy. And, even as the Western diplomats are worried that Trump's action will undermine the international agreement, the US President appears adamant to announce new sanctions or penalties on Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps. Subsequently, Trump's expected move would throw the onus on the Congress to decide what to do next. No wonder, the White House may refrain from recommending that the Congress should re-impose the nuclear sanctions that were suspended under the deal. It would obviously buy time for a new legislation codifying Trump's conditions for remaining in the deal formally, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Not only that, it would also increase US influence on its European allies – not openly supporting the renegotiation of the deal. But, it could not be ruled out that after a few months, the US allies would also be on board with the same restrictions — a unified front that will put immense pressure on the Iranians. Though the Congress may now do away with the requirement that the President recommit to the deal every 90 days – something that sceptical lawmakers of both parties mandated when Obama negotiated the agreement, Trump does not appear to be walking away.