BICOM

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran was not upholding the “spirit” of the 2015 nuclear agreement.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed by Iran and six other countries including the US and UK. The agreement resulted in the cessation of most financial sanctions on Iran, in return for Iran reducing its nuclear programme.

Trump spoke to reporters while on holiday at a private golf club in New Jersey. He said Iran is “not in [compliance with] the spirit of the agreement … and I think you’ll see some very strong things taking place if they don’t get themselves in compliance”.

Under the terms of the agreement, the White House must certify to the US Congress every 90 days whether Iran is honouring its side of the deal. On 17 July, the State Department certified that Iran was in compliance with the agreement, despite reports at the time suggesting disagreements between State Department and White House officials.

US politicians have frequently said that Iran violates the “spirit” of the agreement by citing Iran’s continued development of ballistic missiles, support for terrorism, Tehran’s continuing hostility to Israel and cyberattacks against the US and Israel.

President Trump suggested to the Wall Street Journal in a recent interview that his administration would conclude that Iran is violating the agreement when the next 90-day review period takes place in mid-October.

Last month the US Senate imposed sanctions on people involved in Iran’s ballistic missile programme and anyone who does business with companies involved in the programme. The new measures also impose sanctions in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and enforce an arms embargo.