Iran deal: Trump backs G7 call for more countries to get involved
by Paul Godfrey · UPIJune 17 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed onto a joint statement from leaders of the G7 backing his "breakthrough" Iran deal and calling for the participation of more international partners and multilateral bodies, including the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
Affirming Iran would never have a nuclear bomb, the leaders said they strongly supported a "robust and comprehensive diplomatic follow-on agreement" from the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding that would deliver peace and security for all in the Middle East.
"We underline the need for the negotiation to this end to address the threats posed by Iran in the region and beyond and ensure that they never obtain a nuclear weapon. We agree that such a negotiation would benefit from the contributions from relevant regional and international partners, including the International Atomic Energy Agency," the statement reads.
The leaders credited Trump's strong leadership for the deal with Iran, stressing it also presented a "historic opportunity" to tackle the ballistic missile-building program, an issue not explicitly referenced in the agreement due to be signed in Switzerland on Friday.
"We support and are ready to contribute to its implementation," said the statement.
They noted that an multinational defensive initiative led by France and Britain could play an important role in ensuring the Hormuz Strait reopened in line with Trump's deal and keeping merchant vessels safe, as well as providing reassurance to commercial shipping operators and verifying that all mines were removed.
Trump hailed the summit in Evian in the French Alps as a "great" success, saying that his deal with Iran was "very well received."
However, hours later, he threatened to resume the United States' airborne offensive against Iran if it didn't implement the preliminary agreement ending the fighting to his satisfaction.
"If I don't like it, if they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs rights smack in the middle of their head," Trump told reporters.
He rejected reports that the MOU included sanctions relief from day one, saying the easing of the economic embargo was dependent on Iran behaving "well" going forward.
He also denied that the preliminary deal included a $300 billion reconstruction fund paid for by the Gulf countries but said he would not stand in the way of any such effort.
"It's false. You can invest if you want. What am I going to do, say no one is ever allowed to invest? We're not investing, we're not putting up 10 cents and people can decide to do it. That's up to them," he added.
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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters about restoring commercial fishing access to areas of the Pacific during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI | License Photo