Republican lawmakers back Trump's decision on Iran; Democrats

unimpressedBy Lalit K JhaWashington, Oct 14 (PTI) The new Iran strategy announcedby President Donald Trump reflected a bitter partisan dividein ...
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unimpressedBy Lalit K JhaWashington, Oct 14 (PTI) The new Iran strategy announcedby President Donald Trump reflected a bitter partisan dividein the US politics, with the opposition Democratic leadersslamming it as a "reckless" decision and those from his ownRepublican party rallying solidly behind his decision.

The White House yesterday announced President Trump's newIran strategy which focuses on neutralising Tehran's allegeddestabilising influence in the region.

Later in the day, Trump announced that he would notcertify Iran's compliance with the agreement, but stoppedshort of immediately cancelling US participation in the deal-- also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA), and left its fate in the hands of Congress.

Senator Ben Cardin, a ranking member of Senate ForeignRelations Committee, called Trump's decision "reckless".

"Not even one year into his presidency, this is one ofthe most dangerous and consequential decisions the presidenthas made imperiling US national security," he said.

Cardin said he also disagreed with the president's"subsequent threat to Congress".

"We will not buy into the false premise that it isCongress' role to legislate solutions to problems of his ownmaking," he said.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley said Trump'sdecision was a "reckless and irresponsible" one "which willerode American credibility around the world and deteriorateits national security".

"The Iran Deal is working as intended: preventing Iranfrom acquiring enough material to develop a nuclear weapon.

While it isn't perfect, this multinational agreement was aresult of years of tough sanctions and intensive diplomaticefforts," he said.

But, on the Republican side, the mood was anything butworrying. This was evident by the fact that Trump's bitterrival, Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate ArmedServices Committee, came out in strong support of the newIranian policy.

"I agree with the president that the deal is not in thevital national interests of the United States. I look forwardto working with my colleagues in Congress on additionallegislation to increase sanctions and other pressure to holdIran accountable for its broader destructive behavior in theregion," McCain said.

Observing that for years, the Iranian regime had"literally been getting away with murder", while the US hadlacked a comprehensive strategy to meet the multifacetedthreat Iran poses, McCain said the goals Trump presented inhis speech were a welcome change that was long overdue.

"They offer the United States a path forward that centersour policy towards Iran on its destabilizing regionalambitions rather than its nuclear program alone. I lookforward to learning more about the specifics of this strategy,and the Senate Armed Services Committee will conduct thoroughoversight of our militaryÂ’s role in it," he said.

In a joint statement, top Republican House leaders –House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, HouseMajority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Mac Thornberry, and Liz Cheneysaid Trump's announcement rightly focuses on the full range ofdeadly threats from the Iranian regime.

"Our relationship with Iran should not be defined by oneflawed nuclear deal. From Yemen to Lebanon, Iran is working toimpose its brutal theocratic rule throughout the region. Itsupports terrorist groups like Hezbollah, bolsters theruthless Assad dictatorship, promotes instability throughsectarianism in Iraq, and abuses the human rights of theIranian people," the statement read.

"We cannot allow such a regime to become a nuclear power.

The nuclear deal has significant flaws that must be addressedif that objective is going to be accomplished," it furtherread.

The Iran nuclear deal was signed by Iran and 5+1 group ofcountries (Britain, China, France, Russia, the US and Germany)in 2015 under which Iran agreed to freeze its nuclearprogramme for 15 years in exchange for sanctions relief. PTILKJ CHTCHT.

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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