President Trump is announcing a new strategy on Iran that shifts the focus from Tehran’s nuclear program to other actions the administration says are destabilizing.
The new strategy, outlined in a fact sheet released by the administration early Friday, comes as Trump is expected to decertify Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal it entered into with the Obama administration and several world powers.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the agreement, which lifted sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for Tehran reducing its nuclear facilities, dubbing it “the worst deal ever.” He was reportedly frustrated the last time he was asked to certify that Iran was complying with the deal, suggesting he would not do so again.
Decertifying Iran would set up a 60-day timeframe for Congress to impose new sanctions on Iran, which would effectively remove the U.S. from the deal. The sanctions could not be filibustered in the Senate.