Trump warns Iran about restarting nuclear program

by Jordan Fabian - 04/24/18 11:03 AM ET

President Trump on Tuesday issued a warning to Iran that is should not restart its nuclear program, as he considers whether to pull out of the nuclear deal with Tehran.

“You can mark it down. If they restart their nuclear program they will have bigger problems than they ever had before,” the president said.

Trump blasted the nuclear agreement during an Oval Office meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who is seeking to convince the U.S. president to remain in the pact.

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Trump left the door open to remaining in the 2015 deal, even though he reiterated his belief it is “terrible.”

“It was a terrible deal. It should have never, ever been made,” the president said. “We made this terrible deal but we’re going to discuss it.”

Later Tuesday, Trump appeared to suggest he might accept fixes to the deal rather than exit it entirely.

“We’re looking forward to doing something but it has to be done and it has to be done strongly,” he said without explanation,” Trump said. “We’re fairly close to understanding each other. Our one on one went very well.”

The comments revealed the sharp policy disagreements between Trump and Macron, despite their budding personal friendship.

Macron and other European leaders want Trump to remain in the Iran deal, calling it the best hope to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

They fear that if Trump refuses to extend sanctions relief, it could torpedo the deal and Iran could resume its nuclear activities. The president faces a May 12 deadline to make a decision.

Macron suggested the deal is an important piece of Western efforts to contain Iran’s influence in the Middle East.

“The Iran deal is an important issue but we have to take a far broader picture which is security in the overall region,” he said.“What we want to do is to contain Iran and its presence in the region.”

Macron has directly criticized Trump for announcing he would pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord.

The French leader alluded to the disagreement during a formal welcome ceremony on the South Lawn.

“It is together that we will be able to act effectively for our planet,” he said. “We do not always agree on the solutions … but it is also where the fate of our children is at stake.”

Updated at 11:52 a.m.

Tags Donald Trump Iran Iran nuclear deal