Obama Calls Trump’s Withdrawal From Iran Deal ‘A Serious Mistake’

By MiNDFOOD

Obama Calls Trump’s Withdrawal From Iran Deal ‘A Serious Mistake’
Barack Obama has condemned Trump for destroying the Iran deal, calling the move 'misguided'.

United States President Donald Trump has received wide criticism since announcing he was withdrawing from the Iran deal. Now, former President Barack Obama has joined John Kerry, Helen Clark and others, in weighing in on the decision, calling it “misguided” and “a serious mistake”.

“There are few issues more important to the security of the US than the potential spread of nuclear weapons or the potential for even more destructive war in the Middle East”, he wrote on Facebook. “That’s why the United States negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the first place. The reality is clear. The JCPOA is working – that is a view shared by our European allies, independent experts, and the current U.S. Secretary of Defense. The JCPOA is in America’s interest – it has significantly rolled back Iran’s nuclear program. And the JCPOA is a model for what diplomacy can accomplish – its inspections and verification regime is precisely what the United States should be working to put in place with North Korea. Indeed, at a time when we are all rooting for diplomacy with North Korea to succeed, walking away from the JCPOA risks losing a deal that accomplishes – with Iran – the very outcome that we are pursuing with the North Koreans”, he stressed.

“That is why today’s announcement is so misguided. Walking away from the JCPOA turns our back on America’s closest allies, and an agreement that our country’s leading diplomats, scientists, and intelligence professionals negotiated. In a democracy, there will always be changes in policies and priorities from one Administration to the next. But the consistent flouting of agreements that our country is a party to risks eroding America’s credibility, and puts us at odds with the world’s major powers”, he said.

Listing six definitive points that highlight the JCPOA’s benefits, Obama summarises his case. “The decision to put the JCPOA at risk without any Iranian violation of the deal is a serious mistake”, he said. “Without the JCPOA, the United States could eventually be left with a losing choice between a nuclear-armed Iran or another war in the Middle East. We all know the dangers of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. It could embolden an already dangerous regime; threaten our friends with destruction; pose unacceptable dangers to America’s own security; and trigger an arms race in the world’s most dangerous region. If the constraints on Iran’s nuclear program under the JCPOA are lost, we could be hastening the day when we are faced with the choice between living with that threat, or going to war to prevent it.”

“In a dangerous world, America must be able to rely in part on strong, principled diplomacy to secure our country. We have been safer in the years since we achieved the JCPOA, thanks in part to the work of our diplomats, many members of Congress, and our allies. Going forward, I hope that Americans continue to speak out in support of the kind of strong, principled, fact-based, and unifying leadership that can best secure our country and uphold our responsibilities around the globe.”

Trump is yet to respond to Obama’s statement.

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