Syria blasts Trump on Iran accord position

Syria’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday slammed President Trump for failing to formally certify Iran under a multilateral nuclear deal, saying such a move could escalate tensions in the region. 

“Syria condemns the aggressive policies of the U.S. administration against the interests of the people, and which will increase the atmosphere of tension in the region and the world,” Reuters reported Sunday, citing state news agency SANA quoting an official source at the ministry.

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Syria came to the defense of its regional ally after Trump did not certify that Iran was complying with the requirements set forward by the Obama-era nuclear deal on Friday.

“I am announcing today that we cannot and will not make this certification,” Trump said during a speech at the White House on Friday, while stopping short of withdrawing from the deal.

By failing to certify the deal, Trump punted the decision to Congress, which now has 60 days to decide whether to slap Iran with economic sanctions that were lifted under the 2015 pact.

Trump has also warned that he might completely kill the accord, which was also signed by other countries like Britain, China, Germany, France and Russia, as well as the European Union.

Some of the U.S.’s European allies have warned that not going forward with the deal could hurt the nation’s credibility abroad.

The president said Friday the Iran nuclear deal is no longer serving U.S. national security interests.

“We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror and the very real threat of Iran’s nuclear breakout,” he continued, demanding reforms.

Trump said Tehran has committed “multiple violations of the agreement,” while accusing the state of “not living up to the spirit of the deal.”