Trump warns Iran over resuming nuclear program

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - President Donald Trump warned Iran on Wednesday to refrain from resuming its nuclear program, saying if Tehran chooses to the consequences "will be very severe".

The American president continued to cast doubt on a prospective new nuclear pact with the Islamic Republic, claiming his decision to remove the U.S. from the nuclear accord has been met with universal acclaim.

Other countries, Trump said, "are all very happy at what I did". None of the co-signatories on the nuclear deal reacted positively to the announcement.

"We'll see how we do with Iran. Probably, we won't do very well with them, but that's okay too," Trump told reporters at the White House during a cabinet meeting.

Trump announced Tuesday the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The international accord brought unprecedented curbs and inspections to Iran's nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in international sanctions relief.

The nuclear-related sanctions will begin to be reimposed within 90-day and 180-day "wind-down periods," according to the Treasury Department. It is unclear which sanctions fall under the appropriate time frames, but Trump's recently-seated national security advisor, John Bolton, warned that companies should not engage in any new business with Iran.

He further left the door open to new sanctions being implemented "as new information comes to light".

Trump claimed the nuclear agreement was "going to lead to nuclear proliferation all over the Middle East".

Striking out at Trump's decision Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Trump's announcement speech was filled with lies and threats directed at the Iranian people.

“In the name of the Iranian people,” he added, “you are making a mistake, Mr. Trump.”