Trump says he would improve Iran deal, not repudiate it

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump said Friday it would make no sense to “repudiate” the “disastrous” nuclear arms deal with Iran, but it should be improved upon.

Speaking by phone about the agreement to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program, the billionaire real estate mogul called it “a horrible contract” and said he’d work to improve it if elected.

Trump told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program he feels qualified because “I love to buy bad contracts.”

GOP lawmakers who control the House and Senate ardently oppose the agreement, which curbs Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for hundreds of billions of dollars in relief from international sanctions.

Trump repeated his charge that the deal was “negotiated by totally incompetent people.” Trump said that Iran “is going to be an absolute terror,” predicting Tehran would use money from sanctions relief to create instability in the region.

He said that if elected, “I will make that agreement so tough that if they [the Iranians] break it, they will have hell to pay.”

Overcoming ferocious opposition, US President Barack Obama secured a legacy-defining foreign policy victory Wednesday as Senate Democrats clinched the necessary votes to ensure the Iran nuclear agreement survives in Congress.

The decisive 34th commitment came from Maryland Democrat Barbara Mikulski. In a statement she said “no deal is perfect, especially one negotiated with the Iranian regime.” But she called the pact “the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb.”

Supporters now have the votes in hand to uphold Obama’s veto, if one becomes necessary, of a resolution of disapproval Republicans are trying to pass this month.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.