US President Donald Trump has indicated that he has made a decision on whether to pull out of the Iran Nuclear Deal.
Responding to questions from reporters on the deal this afternoon, President Trump repeated three times, “I have decided.”
Pressed on what that decision might be he said, “I will let you know.”
During his campaign for the White house, President Trump pledged to withdraw the US from the deal – which saw the easing of international sanctions against Iran in exchange for concessions on its nuclear programme.
He has been extremely vocal in his opposition to the agreement and during his speech to the UN General Assembly yesterday he called it “one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into.”
“Frankly that deal is an embarrassment to the United States,” he said. “And I don't think you've heard the last of it, believe me."
The President’s speech – in which he also threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea – has been criticised by commentators and a number of member states.
On Twitter, the Iranian foreign minister said: “Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times - not the 21st Century UN”
Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times-not the 21st Century UN -unworthy of a reply. Fake empathy for Iranians fools no one.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) September 19, 2017
If the US does not certify that Iran is in compliance with the agreement, the US congress will have a 60-day window to decide whether to re-impose sanctions.
The deal was agreed in 2015 between Iran and six major powers, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US.