One of Donald Trump’s old tweets slamming a 2013 nuclear deal with Iran has resurfaced after the two countries agreed to peace this week.
In November 2013, Iran, the US and five other world powers signed an agreement in which Iran restricted its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump responded to the deal on Twitter and wrote, ‘What a rotten deal we made with Iran. We get nothing (except laughter at our stupidity). They get everything, including delay and big cash!’
Similarities between the 2013 deal, seen as a major win for the second Barack Obama administration, and the most recent peace deal spearheaded by Trump are hard to ignore. The 2013 deal briefly halted the progress of Iran’s nuclear programme and released $4 billion in frozen assets for the country.
Though Iran did eventually begin to enrich uranium and seemingly break the 2013 agreement, Trump has touted his new deal, which has almost the same guidelines as Obama’s did.
Trump announced the new peace agreement, which includes a $300,000,000,000 plan for Iran’s ‘reconstruction’, a lifting of ‘all types of sanctions’, removal of the Strait of Hormuz blockade, the agreement for more nuclear supervision from the IAEA and unfreezing Iranian assets.
Key points of the agreement
- The United States of America, Iran and their allies agree to the permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.
- The United States of America and Iran will respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- The deal will be achieved in a maximum of 60 days.
- Immediately upon the signing of this, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against Iran.
- Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge, for 60 days only, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa.
- The United States of America and its regional partners will develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan with at least $300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran.
- The United States of America will terminate all sanctions against Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral US sanctions.
- Iran will not procure or develop nuclear weapons.
- The United States of America and Iran will dispose of stockpiled enriched material, with the minimum methodology to be down-blended on-site under the supervision of the IAEA.
- Pending the final deal, the United States of America and Iran agree to maintain the status quo.
- The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program, and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions and will not deploy additional forces in the region.
- The US Department of the Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurance, transportation, etc.
- The United States of America will make frozen or restricted Iranian funds and assets fully available.
- The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MOU and the future compliance of the final deal.
- After signing this MOU, and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of this MOU, and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs.
- The final deal will be endorsed by a binding UNSC resolution.
The conflict began on February 28 when Trump announced major combat operations against Iran, triggering joint US-Israeli strikes that were followed by a fragile ceasefire and a US blockade.
