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Trump: 'The Iranian Regime Has Committed Multiple Violations' of Nuclear Deal

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump said Friday Iran has committed multiple violations of the nuclear agreement and announced he would decertify the deal as a result.

"The Iranian regime has committed multiple violations of the agreement," Trump said. "For example, on two separate occasions, they have exceeded the limit of 130 metric tons of heavy water. Until recently, the Iranian regime has also failed to meet our expectations in its operation of advanced centrifuges."

Trump decried the terms of the deal that the Obama Administration set up, which provided benefits to Iran before long-term compliance has been established.

"The saddest part of the deal for the United States is that all of the money was paid up front, which is unheard of, rather than at the end of the deal when they have shown they have played the rules," Trump said. "What's done is done and that's why we are where we are."

Trump outlined a new path forward for dealing with Iran, after noting that the regime has continued to fuel "conflict, terror, and turmoil."

"First, we will work with our allies to counter the regime's destabilizing activity and support for terrorist proxies in the region," he said. "Second, we will place additional sanctions on the regime to block their financing of terror. Third, we will address the regime's proliferation of missiles and weapons that threaten its neighbors’ global trade and freedom of navigation. And finally, we will deny the regime all paths to a nuclear weapon."

Trump declared that the worst thing about the deal is the so-called sunset clause, which is set to loosen restrictions on Iran's nuclear capabilities over the course of a few years in the next decade.

"Worst of all, the deal allows Iran to continue developing certain elements of its nuclear program and in just a few years, as key restrictions disappear, Iran can sprint towards a rapid nuclear weapons breakout," Trump said.

Trump questioned the purpose of the deal and called its terms "unacceptable."

"What is the purpose of a deal that at best only delays nuclear capability for a short period of time?" Trump asked. "This, as president of the United States, is unacceptable."

He also said Iran violated the spirit of the deal, maintaining that it is not effective at constraining the regime.

"By its own terms, the Iran deal was supposed to contribute to regional and international peace and security," he said. "And yet while the United States adheres to our commitment under the deal, the Iranian regime continues to feel conflict, terror, and turmoil throughout the Middle East and beyond."