Middle East fears as Donald Trump scraps Iran nuclear deal
President Donald Trump has ignited fears of a new Middle East crisis after confirming he will pull the United States out of an international agreement aimed at stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Describing Iran as the âworldâs leading state sponsor of terrorâ in an address on Wednesday morning (AEST), Mr Trump pledged to reimpose the highest level of economic sanctions on Iran.
The decision was met with concern from Americaâs NATO allies and support from Israel, amid warnings the decision is likely to raise the risk of conflict in the Middle East and disrupt global oil supplies.
âThis was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made,â Mr Trump said at the White House.
âIt didnât bring calm. It didnât bring peace. And it never will.â
The 2015 deal, worked out by the United States, five other international powers and Iran, eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear program.
âIt is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement,â he said.
âThe Iran deal is defective at its core.â
Mr Trump said the agreement, the signature foreign policy achievement of his predecessor Barack Obama, does not address Iranâs ballistic missile program, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 nor its role in conflicts in Yemen and Syria.
âIn just a short period of time, the worldâs leading state sponsor of terror will be on the cusp of acquiring the worldâs most dangerous weapon.â
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a televised address immediately after the decision that Israel fully supports Mr Trumpâs announcement.
Israel opens bomb shelters
The Israeli army instructed authorities in the Golan Heights, in the north of the country, to open civilian shelters after detecting what it called âirregular activityâ of Iranian forces in Syria.
The Israel Army statement warned that âany aggression against Israel will be met with a severe responseâ.
Little more than an hour later, Syrian television reported an Israeli airstrike near the capital Damascus, saying its air defences shot down two missiles.
The British-based observatory said the missiles killed nine people and targeted depots and rocket launchers that likely belong to Iranâs elite Revolutionary Guards.
Iran has ruled out renegotiating the nuclear agreement and threatened to retaliate if Washington pulled out.
US Military officials told CNN there was growing concern that Iran would soon attack Israel.
The officials were quoted as saying it was not clear when an attack might take place and what form it would take.
âIf there is an attack it might not be immediately clear itâs Iran,â one official was quoted as saying.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will take a few weeks to decide how to respond to the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
But in a speech shortly after Mr Trumpâs announcement, he said he had ordered the countryâs âatomic industry organisation to be fully prepared for subsequent measures if needed so that in case of need we will start our industrial enrichment without limitationsâ.
NATO concerns
The leaders of Americaâs NATO allies Britain, Germany and France immediately urged the US not to take any actions that could prevent them and Iran from continuing to implement the agreement.
Prime Minister Theresa May, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement urging Iran to âshow restraintâ and continue fulfilling its own obligations such as cooperating with inspections.
Mr Obama, who helped architect the deal, released a lengthy statement, calling Mr Trumpâs decision to withdraw âmisguidedâ.
âWe have been safer in the years since we achieved the JCPOA,â he said, referring to the dealâs official title, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Mr Trump âabsolutely made the right decisionâ to leave the Iran nuclear deal.
âThis was a terrible deal that only allowed Iranâs bad international conduct to worsen,â she said in a statement.
Renewing sanctions would make it much harder for Iran to sell its oil abroad or use the international banking system.
-with agencies
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