From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Trump signs orders for ‘maximum pressure’ on Iran, pulling US from UN Human Rights Council, maintaining halt to UNRWA funding
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump signs a document to stop US engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council and to continue a halt to funding for the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA.
“I’ve always felt that the UN has tremendous potential. It’s not living up to that potential right now… it hasn’t for a long time, it has,” Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump also signs what he calls a “very tough” directive restoring his “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign on Iran.
“This is one that I’m torn about. Everybody wants me to sign it. I’ll do that. It’s very tough on Iran,” he continues.
“I’m unhappy to do it, but I really have not so much choice because we have to be strong and firm, and I hope that it’s not going to have to be used in any great measure at all,” Trump says.
He stresses that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
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