Trump asks Congress, U.S. allies to tighten Iran nuclear deal

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump announced Friday he does not plan to recertify the 2015 Iran nuclear accord but stopped short of scrapping it entirely. He announced plans for a new strategy and asked Congress and U.S. allies to work in tandem on a better agreement. “The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into,” the president said. “In the event we are not able to reach a solution working with Congress and our allies, then the agreement will be terminated.” Trump has until Sunday to recertify the Obama-era agreement. He has already done so twice but said on Friday he wouldn’t do it again. Congress will have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions against Iran that President Barack Obama lifted when he established the accord. If the sanctions return, the United States would officially withdraw from the multi-nation pact. Trump wants Congress to amend the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which requires the president to determine if Iran is in compliance with the nuclear deal every 90 days. The president wants to establish “trigger points” so that if Iran steps out of line, the United States would automatically reimpose economic sanctions and end the agreement. Trump’s decision goes against comments from some of his top advisers. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have all told Congress the United States should remain in the deal.