Donald Trump sharply criticized the 2015 JCPOA, accusing Obama of 'bribing' Iran with a $1.7B cash payment. He also threatened military action over a new deal, while denying reports of new payments to Tehran under the current agreement.
Trump Slams Obama's JCPOA as a 'Bribe'
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday sharply criticised the 2015 JCPOA Iran nuclear arrangement, accusing former US President Barack Obama of effectively "bribing" Tehran through a cash payment as part of the deal. Speaking during a bilateral Meeting with the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt at the G7 summit, Trump said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), negotiated under the Obama administration, involved the transfer of large sums of money to Iran, including USD 1.7 billion in cash.
"But nobody could have made this deal. I mean, the JCPOA done by Obama, he handed them a billion seven in cash, gave them hundreds of millions of dollars, gave them billions and billions of dollars. But he gave them 1.7 billion dollars in cash, green cash from banks, into a Boeing 757 and flew it into Iran," Trump said.
The US President claimed Iran viewed the payment as an attempt by Washington to secure the agreement. "They stood at the plane, I have pictures of it, like 'Oh my God, look at this money he's giving us.' He tried to bribe his way out, I didn't do that," Trump said.
Continuing his criticism, Trump argued that the payment failed to win Iranian goodwill and alleged that Iranian leaders mocked Obama despite the financial transfer. "Nobody mentions that. 1.7 billion, and hundreds of millions they tried to bribe their way out of it, and you know what the Iranians did? They laughed at Obama, and they said he's a stupid son of a b*#@*," Trump said.
The JCPOA, signed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers, placed restrictions on Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement during his first term in 2018, calling it one of the "worst" deals ever negotiated.
Trump Threatens Military Action Over New Iran Deal
Just 48 hours ahead of the signing of the crucial peace deal with Iran, US President Donald Trump said that the MoU is "not final," threatening that the war may resume if "they don't behave." Trump firmly stated that the US will go back to "dropping bombs" if he is unappreciative of the final shape of the deal.
Asked by reporters if the agreement between the US and Iran was now final, Trump said, "It's not final. It's a memorandum of understanding, and if I don't like it, we'll go back to shooting them, dropping bombs on their heads. If I don't like it, if they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head. Okay? 'Cause they've misbehaved for 47 years."
No New Payments to Iran
Earlier, following US President Donald Trump's announcement that the deal with Iran was "complete" and will be signed on Friday, US Vice President JD Vance on Monday said that both sides have already "signed the deal digitally", stressing that any sanctions relief for Tehran as part of the agreement would depend on the Islamic Republic's compliance with commitments under the agreement.
Speaking to ABC's Good Morning America, Vance said no financial concessions had been made to Iran following the signing of the deal. "We already signed the deal digitally yesterday, and there's been no money released, and that won't change," Vance said, responding to a question on whether Iran would receive sanctions relief or access to frozen assets upon signing the agreement.
This development comes as earlier on Monday (local time), Trump dismissed reports that Washington would provide USD 300 million to Tehran under the newly announced peace agreement and called it "fake news." In a post on Truth Social, Trump reiterated his administration's position that the agreement with Iran would ensure that Tehran does not develop nuclear weapons. "Iran has agreed to never have a Nuclear Weapon! Also, the story that the US is paying Iran 300 million Dollars is Fake News, put out by the Dumocrats!!!" Trump said. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)