Trump to UN: "Let me back in"

Next Friday marks two years since the US withdrew from the Iran Nuclear Deal. Withdrawal was a signature Trump initiative to overturn President Obama’s sensible creation which eliminated Iran’s nuclear threat. The deal was arguably the most significant peace saving measure of this century. Trump, got a twofor: besides nullifying an Obama policy, it furthered his desire to overturn the Iranian regime. Withdrawal allowed Trump to demand a new agreement which would essentially eliminate Iranian sovereignty.

But withdrawing backfired, so much so that Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is demanding the US never really left the deal and wants back in. Why? Turns out Iran didn’t cave to Trump’s intimidation. They kept their powder dry knowing the UN and other signatories support the deal and are appalled the US would sabotage it. As a party to the deal the US would have an easier time imposing “snapback”, a clause that would automatically trigger pre deal sanctions. Leaving the agreement ended US opportunity to impose snapback for any Iranian non-compliance. Pompeo now argues the US never really left the deal even though Trump’s May 8, 2018 announcement trumpeted the US ‘withdrawal’

After three years of demonizing Iran, designed to both discredit his wise predecessor and take out the Iranian regime, Trump has simply cemented his stature on the world stage as a foreign policy fool.