Trump withdraws US from Iran nuclear deal

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Bucking pressure from the U.S.'s closest European allies, President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. Tuesday from its participation in the landmark nuclear agreement world powers struck with Iran in 2015.

Trump opted not to extend sanctions relief on Iran ahead of a May 12 deadline, vowing instead to re-impose nuclear-related economic penalties.

“We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanction," Trump said while announcing his decision from the White House. "Any nation that helps Iran in its quest for nuclear weapons could also be strongly sanctioned by the United States."

The decision strikes a major blow to the nonproliferation agreement that was one of former President Barack Obama's signature achievements, as well as to European leaders who had been counseling Trump against the move.

The 2015 nuclear agreement placed unprecedented restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from international sanctions, but Trump has consistently railed against it since he began his bid for America's highest office, repeatedly claiming it is the "worst deal" he has ever seen.

All of the U.S.'s negotiating partners -- the U.K., France, Germany, Russia, China and the EU -- had agreed that maintaining the accord was the best way to reign in Iran's program.

Trump had until recently been warned against violating the nuclear accord by some of his closest advisors who have since been replaced by what analysts consider as more hawkish individuals, including National Security Advisor John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.