Trump withdraws US from Iran nuclear deal

Meg Wagner and Veronica Rocha, CNN

Updated 5:16 p.m. ET, May 9, 2018
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4:45 p.m. ET, May 8, 2018

How lawmakers are reacting to Trump's decision

From CNN's Daniella Diaz

President Trump's decision to pull the US out of the Iran deal sparked outrage from Democrats and at least some criticism from his own party.

Here's what lawmakers are saying:

  • Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia): In a statement, he said that such a move drives "a wedge between us and our allies."
  • Sen. Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey): He said it was "a huge mistake to withdraw without a plan."
  • Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia): "I think he will be driving the wedge between the United States and our European allies," he said.
  • Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio): "Without proof that Iran is in violation of the agreement, it is a mistake to fully withdraw from this deal," he said in a statement.
  • Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tennessee): He said it was disappointing the White House couldn't reach an agreement with US allies, but is confident the President will work for a better deal.
  • Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine): She said the Iran deal had been flawed, but she preferred an approach where the U.S would "remedy those flaws" with allies rather than walking away all together.
4:29 p.m. ET, May 8, 2018

Turkey's president says he fears "new crises" will break out in the region

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told CNN that he fears that “new crises” will break out in the Middle East as a result of the US abandoning the Iran deal.

“We don’t need new crises in the region,” Erdoğan told CNN’s Becky Anderson, adding that President Trump's decision is not just going to impact the region, but the entire world.

Erdoğan said Trump’s move will put the entire world economy at stake. 

“That is the reason why as Turkey, we will be hit … and the United States might gain some certain positivity out of the withdrawal of this…or the rising oil prices … but many of the countries, in poverty, will be hit even harder and deeper,” he said.

When asked if he has concerns of a geopolitical war breaking out as a result, Erdoğan said, “that’s not what we would wish to see, of course … this is not what we'd like to expect."

"However, in my point of view, the U.S. would be the ones to lose," he said. "Iran will never compromise on this agreement, and will abide by this agreement to the end … that’s what I think. However, the U.S. will lose in the end.”  

Erdoğan said Trump should have respected the agreement, signed by the previous administration. 

“This is not how the international mechanisms work," he said. "International covenants and international conventions, cannot be annulled upon will. If any document is bearing your signature, you need to respect that. You need to abide by that.”

5:52 p.m. ET, May 8, 2018

Jeff Flake says Trump's decision is not "a wise move"

From CNN's Clare Foran

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake told CNN's Jake Tapper today that he doesn't think President Trump's decision to pull the US out of the Iran nuclear deal is "a wise move."

"I just don't think that it's a wise move," the Arizona lawmaker said.

"Our allies and our adversaries need to know that we are reliable, and I think that's missing right now."

Flake said he does not believe the country is safer as a result of the action.

3:55 p.m. ET, May 8, 2018

US issues security warning for Golan Heights in Israel

From CNN’s Oren Liebermann

The US State Department issued a security warning for American citizens on Tuesday, urging them to “consider carefully” when traveling to the Golan Heights “until the situation stabilizes.”

The State Department employees must also seek permission before traveling to the Golan Heights, situated in northern Israel, right next to Syria.

Israel opened up bomb shelters in the Golan Heights on Tuesday evening after the defense forces said “irregular activity of Iranian forces in Syria” was detected.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is also on high alert in the area, and defense systems have been deployed.

10:15 p.m. ET, May 8, 2018

Iran's president warns it is ready to start nuclear enrichment "without limitations"

From CNN's Chandler Thornton and Lonzo Cook

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said he had ordered the country’s “atomic industry organization to be fully prepared for subsequent measures if needed so that in case of need we will start our industrial enrichment without limitations."

Rouhani spoke live on television following President Trump’s announcement that the US was withdrawing from Iran nuclear deal.

 

3:44 p.m. ET, May 8, 2018

Obama: We've been safer since we entered the Iran deal

Barack Obama, who was president when the Iran deal was negotiated in 2015, released a lengthy statement, calling Trump's decision to withdraw from the deal "misguided."

"We have been safer in the years since we achieved the JCPOA," referring to the deal's official title, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Here's part of his statement:

I believe that the decision to put the JCPOA at risk without any Iranian violation of the deal is a serious mistake. Without the JCPOA, the United States could eventually be left with a losing choice between a nuclear-armed Iran or another war in the Middle East. We all know the dangers of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. It could embolden an already dangerous regime; threaten our friends with destruction; pose unacceptable dangers to America’s own security; and trigger an arms race in the world’s most dangerous region. If the constraints on Iran’s nuclear program under the JCPOA are lost, we could be hastening the day when we are faced with the choice between living with that threat, or going to war to prevent it. 

3:42 p.m. ET, May 8, 2018

Chuck Schumer on Trump's decision: "I don’t know how the plan works by dividing our allies"

From CNN's Phil Mattingly

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was asked whether Democratic lawmakers would support the idea of the Senate possibly implementing sanctions against Iran.

"You have to see what they’re proposing but I don’t see a path," he said. "This is a little like replace and repeal."

"I don’t know how the plan works by dividing our allies. What do you do with the (International Atomic Energy Agency)? How are you really going to enforce these sanctions with other countries? I just don’t see a concrete plan emerging."

Schumer said he asked Vice President Mike Pence earlier today lots of questions about the deal, but "didn’t get good answers."

5:14 p.m. ET, May 9, 2018

Iran's president said they will still abide by the deal

From CNN's Lonzo Cook

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will take a few weeks to decide how to respond to the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran deal. 

Rouhani added that with the US withdrawal, the agreement now existed between Iran and five other countries. 

He said Iran would abide by its commitments while it consults with the other signatories to the JPCOA. Rouhani also accused Trump of conducting psychological warfare against the Iranian people and said Iran would not allow him to triumph in exerting economic pressure on the country.

3:22 p.m. ET, May 8, 2018

John Kerry: "This is not in America's interest"

Former secretary of state John Kerry said President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Iran deal "weakens our security" and "breaks America's word."

He tweeted his full statement:

Kerry was reportedly trying to save the deal. He met with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at the United Nations in New York two weeks ago, their second meeting in about two months, to discuss ways of keeping the deal limiting Iran's nuclear weapons program intact, according to two sources familiar with the interactions.

The former secretary of state also met last month with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, separately sat down with French President Emmanuel Macron and spoke on the phone with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, the sources told CNN.