Pool/Jim Lo Scalzo via Associated Press
President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, as Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., listen.
- President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the US government's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, marking one of the biggest foreign policy decisions of his tenure thus far.
- Trump has repeatedly called the deal "terrible."
- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday suggested his country would not necessarily withdraw from the pact just because the US does, flip-flopping on his previous statements.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the US government's withdrawal from the Iran deal, marking one of the biggest foreign policy decisions of his tenure thus far.
Trump on Tuesday complained the Iran deal supplied the "murderous" Iranian regime with "billions" of dollars, and said allowing the deal to stand would be "unacceptable" and catalyze a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
"Since the agreement, Iran's bloody ambitions have grown only more brazen," Trump said. "The Iran deal is defective at its core."
"Therefore, I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal," Trump added.
There's no credible evidence Iran has violated the terms of the deal, despite recent claims from the Israeli government, which Trump cited during his announcement on Tuesday.
Trump informed Congress of his decision to withdraw from the Iran deal shortly before he was set to make a formal announcement, a congressional source told Business Insider.
This came after The New York Times reported Trump informed French President Emmanuel Macron of his intention to withdraw the US from the landmark pact in a phone call Tuesday morning.
The president has long criticized the Iran deal, which was orchestrated by the Obama administration and aimed to restrict Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons in exchange for the easing of harsh economic sanctions.
Trump has repeatedly called the deal "terrible," a characterization he reiterated as he hosted Macron in Washington in late April.
Withdrawing from the deal could have numerous consequences for the US and the wider world, and puts Trump in a precarious position with some of America's top allies. Some have expressed concerns that such a move could hamper upcoming talks with North Korea regarding its nuclear program.
With that said, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday suggested that his country would not necessarily withdraw from the pact just because the US does, flip-flopping on his previous statements.
"We are not worried about America's cruel decisions. ...We are prepared for all scenarios and no change will occur in our lives next week," Rouhani said in a televised speech.
According to a recent CNN poll conducted by SSRS, a majority of Americans (63%) do not want the US to step away from Iran deal, while just 29% supported withdrawing.