President Barack Obama did not sign a 10-year renewal of Iranian sanctions in a bid to pacify Tehran’s fears that President-elect Donald Trump will withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal.
Despite not signing the sanctions renewal, Obama still allowed them to go into effect. The sanctions were overwhelmingly passed by both houses of Congress. The move is reportedly a way for Obama to express disapproval with the sanctions, which he believes are counterproductive to the Iranian nuclear deal.
“The administration has, and continues to use, all of the necessary authorities to waive the relevant sanctions,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a Wednesday statement. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani expressed dismay after Trump’s victory in a November statement.
Iran’s understanding in the nuclear deal was that the accord was not concluded with one country or government but was approved by a resolution of the United Nations Security Council and there is no possibility that it can be changed by a single government,” Rouhani reportedly told his cabinet. “The United States no longer has the capacity to create Iranophobia and to create a consensus against Iran,” he continued.
Trump’s pledge to withdraw the U.S. from the Iran deal will prove difficult, if he promises to follow through. Vice President-elect Mike Pence vowed that the deal will be “ripped up” upon consultation with U.S. allies. Department of State Spokesman Mark Toner, however, confirmed to reporters “the agreement is valid only as long as all parties uphold it.”
The Iran nuclear deal is also signed by Russia, Britain, France, China, and Germany. The U.S., along with several other European countries, have begun to re-engage economically with Iran. Boeing signed a multi-million dollar deal with Iran Air, to provide a brand new fleet of planes.
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