US President Donald Trump may be planning to abandon the Iran nuclear deal, according to US media reports.
If he fails to certify the accord, Congress will decide whether to re-impose economic sanctions on Iran. Mr Trump has until 15 October to decide.
Opposition to the deal was a major part of his campaign last year.
Posing for photographers with military leaders on Thursday, he said this was “the calm before the storm” but refused to give further details.
There was speculation his comments might refer to heightened tensions with North Korea, but the New York Times says “people who have been briefed on the matter” believe he means Iran.
Mr Trump was seen at the White House with his wife Melania, as well as military leaders, after Thursday’s meetings but before dinner together. Gesturing at the people around him, he asked the waiting press if they knew “what this represents”.
“Maybe it’s the calm before the storm,” he said.
When reporters pressed him on what storm he was referring to, he would only say: “You’ll find out.”
He had earlier told his top defence officials he expected them to provide “a broad range of military options… at a much faster pace” in future. What happens next?
US media say the president will announce next Thursday that he will not be certifying the deal on the grounds it does not serve US security interests. This would leave Congress 60 days to decide whether to re-impose sanctions on Iran.
But some of his top advisers, such as Defence Secretary James Mattis, appear to back the deal.
Speaking in the White House’s Cabinet Room, President Trump said: “The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence and chaos across the Middle East.”
US President Donald Trump may be planning to abandon the Iran nuclear deal, according to US media reports.
If he fails to certify the accord, Congress will decide whether to re-impose economic sanctions on Iran. Mr Trump has until 15 October to decide.
Opposition to the deal was a major part of his campaign last year.
Posing for photographers with military leaders on Thursday, he said this was “the calm before the storm” but refused to give further details.
There was speculation his comments might refer to heightened tensions with North Korea, but the New York Times says “people who have been briefed on the matter” believe he means Iran.
Mr Trump was seen at the White House with his wife Melania, as well as military leaders, after Thursday’s meetings but before dinner together. Gesturing at the people around him, he asked the waiting press if they knew “what this represents”.
“Maybe it’s the calm before the storm,” he said.
When reporters pressed him on what storm he was referring to, he would only say: “You’ll find out.”
He had earlier told his top defence officials he expected them to provide “a broad range of military options… at a much faster pace” in future.
What happens next?
US media say the president will announce next Thursday that he will not be certifying the deal on the grounds it does not serve US security interests. This would leave Congress 60 days to decide whether to re-impose sanctions on Iran.
But some of his top advisers, such as Defence Secretary James Mattis, appear to back the deal.
Speaking in the White House’s Cabinet Room, President Trump said: “The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence and chaos across the Middle East.”
