Trump will announce US exit from Iran nuclear deal — sources

US President Donald Trump is following through on his campaign threat and withdrawing the US from the multi-national nuclear accord with Iran.

That’s according to two people familiar with the decision, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record. They did not have any details on how the withdrawal would unfold.

According to an unconfirmed New York Times report, Trump will reinstate all US sanctions waived under the accord and impose additional economic penalties, despite calls from European capitals for more time to negotiate a “Plan B.”

Trump, who has long pledged to tear up the “very badly negotiated” agreement, was due to speak at 2:00 pm at the White House, with some supporters of the deal clinging to hopes he might only partially reinstate sanctions or allow more time for talks.

Instead, it now seems more likely that he will effectively tear up the deal — which his predecessor Barack Obama agreed with Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia — and dare Tehran’s regime to restart its enrichment program and alleged quest for a nuclear weapon.

The US president has long criticized the 2015 agreement, which lifted most US and international sanctions against the country. In return, Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program making it impossible to produce a bomb, along with rigorous inspections.

The decision deals a profound blow to some of America’s closest allies — including Britain, France, and Germany, who joined the US only three years ago to sign the deal.

For months, Trump has unsuccessfully demanded changes to the Obama-era nuclear deal, but months of intensive talks between the US and its European allies ultimately stalled when the European signatories of the deal refused Washington’s demand to rewrite key provisions of the accord.

Critics have warned that ending the sanction waivers would unravel the carefully constructed deal, plunge Iran’s already struggling economy into crisis, spur a Middle East arms race and expose the biggest transatlantic rift since the Iraq War.

Hours before Trump’s announcement, the EU reiterated its support for the agreement during a meeting between top European and Iranian officials.

In a statement, the EU said Tuesday’s meeting intended to “reiterate their support to the continued full and effective implementation of the [agreement] by all sides.”