Trump 'decided' on Iran

Photo: The Canadian Press

"I have decided," President Donald Trump declared Wednesday, announcing he'd reached a verdict on the Iran nuclear deal's future even as top U.S. and Iranian officials headed into their highest-level talks of his presidency. Iran's leader, meanwhile, lashed out at "ignorant, absurd and hateful rhetoric" in response to Trump's blistering attack at the U.N.

The jabbing between Trump and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani set the stage for a contentious meeting of the nuclear accord's parties. Trump has sent strong signals that he could walk away from the seven-nation agreement, which would potentially lead to new U.S. sanctions on Iran and its international trading partners. The Iranians, in turn, have threatened to respond to any U.S. pullout by restarting nuclear activities that could take them closer to bomb-making capability.

Asked about his stance on the nuclear pact Wednesday, Trump said he had made a decision. Pressed for details, he replied coyly: "I'll let you know."

Shortly afterward, Vice-President Mike Pence told the U.N. Security Council that Iran "continues to flout the spirit of the Iran deal, destabilizing the region and brazenly threatening the security of sovereign nations," a toned-down version of the diatribe delivered by Trump in a General Assembly speech to fellow world leaders Tuesday.