Day 966: Trump ponders floating Iran $15 billion to get back in the deal he tore up
When Barack Obama negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, there were many skeptics that Iran would actually adhere to the agreement.
Iran was to limit their enrichment capacity, only do research on an agreed scope and schedule, and shut down many facilities. To keep them honest, there would be substantial and independent inspections. For their part, the U.S. and and E.U. would terminate the vast majority of sanctions against Iran. The idea, in short, was that Iran would have a functioning economy in exchange for substantially pushing back their nuclear-capable timeline.
And despite the early concerns, by all accounts — including by U.S. intelligence — the agreement was working for all parties. Iran was complying and the world was farther from another nuclear power.
Then, Trump tore it up, really for no reason, and applied substantial new sanctions on Tehran.
He was then surprised when Iran increased their uranium stockpile.
France has been trying to hold the deal together, and has recently floated bailing out Iran to the tune of $15 billion, a plan that Trump is apparently growing fond of.
President Donald Trump has left the impression with foreign officials, members of his administration, and others involved in Iranian negotiations that he is actively considering a French plan to extend a $15 billion credit line to the Iranians if Tehran comes back into compliance with the Obama-era nuclear deal.
Trump has in recent weeks shown openness to entertaining President Emmanuel Macron’s plan, according to four sources with knowledge of Trump’s conversations with the French leader. Two of those sources said that State Department officials, including Secretary Mike Pompeo, are also open to weighing the French proposal, in which the Paris government would effectively ease the economic sanctions regime that the Trump administration has applied on Tehran for more than a year.
The deal put forward by France would compensate Iran for oil sales disrupted by American sanctions. A large portion of Iran’s economy relies on cash from oil sales. Most of that money is frozen in bank accounts across the globe.
In essence, Iran would get a $15 billion credit line to re-enter a deal they already agreed to. The U.S. would re-enter a deal that Trump has trashed for years.
As a reminder, Trump considers himself a tremendous negotiator.
966 days in, 496 to go
Follow us on Twitter at @TrumpTimer
