US President Donald Trump’s recently ousted chief strategist made a bold declaration this week, asserting that the president is unlikely to certify the Iran nuclear deal when the next October deadline arrives. In his first televised interview since exiting the administration, Stephen Bannon told CBS News on Sunday that while the national security establishment is urging Trump to verify that Tehran is abiding by the landmark 2015 pact, his old boss is inclined to do otherwise. “I wouldn’t bet on that,” Bannon said when asked about speculation Trump will not dismantle the accord, as he often promised he would during the election campaign. Under an agreement forged between former president, Barack Obama, and Congress, the White House is required to report to Capitol Hill every 180 days on whether Iran is honoring the 2015 deal that curbed its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump has already certified Iranian compliance twice, once in April and again in July. But he has sent strong signals he will not do the same at the next opportunity this fall. Trump told Wall Street Journal in August, “I do not expect that they will be in compliance [by the next deadline].”
Add new comment
Read our comment policy before posting your viewpoints