Mahathir: US Isolated After Nuclear Deal Pullout

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says the United States has become isolated following its unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear agreement signed between Iran and world powers in 2015. The US was wrong to terminate the nuclear deal and has become isolated, as the European Union is working to keep the agreement, he said in an interview with ThaiPBS, Malaysiakini news portal reported on Thursday. US President Donald Trump pulled out of the accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, on May 8 and decided to revive Iran-related sanctions, including sanctions aimed at the country’s oil sector and transactions with its central bank. Mahathir reiterated his stance that it would be difficult to work with someone like Trump.

“I did tell the press when asked about Trump that it is difficult to work with a man who changes his mind within 24 hours—three times,” he said.

The Malaysian leader also predicted that the US president may not win a second term.

“I think he might lose the second term, [as a result of] which most of his policies would be thrown out just as he threw out the policies of the previous president, Barack Obama,” he said.