Trump: Iran’s military budget proves nuclear deal was ‘a big lie’

President Trump held up Iran’s large military budget on Saturday as evidence that Tehran’s commitment to a deal curbing its nuclear pursuits “was all a big lie.”

“Iran’s Military Budget is up more than 40% since the Obama negotiated Nuclear Deal was reached…just another indicator that it was all a big lie. But not anymore!” Trump tweeted. 

Iran’s Military Budget is up more than 40% since the Obama negotiated Nuclear Deal was reached…just another indicator that it was all a big lie. But not anymore!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2018

Trump declared on Tuesday that the U.S. would withdraw from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, which sought to place sharp limits on the country’s uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. 

Trump had long complained that the 2015 deal empowered Iran by giving its economy a much-needed boost, while failing to curb Tehran’s activities beyond its nuclear pursuits.

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Among the activities Trump decried were Iran’s development of ballistic missiles and its support for groups deemed terrorist organizations by the U.S. 

In the lead up to Trump’s announcement on the Iran deal, the White House seized on a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — a staunch opponent of the pact — last month, in which Netanyahu argued that Iran entered into the deal under false pretenses.