By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON
Keeping the U.S. in the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers is not in the U.S. interest, President Donald Trump will declare next week, according to reports Thursday.
The move will the issue to Congress, which will have to decide on a way forward.
Trump is expected to announce his decision Oct. 12, the Washington Post but said he is expected to avoid recommending the U.S. reimpose sanctions on Iran.
National Security Council spokesman Michael Anton refuted the Post's story in an emailed message to Anadolu Agency, saying it "is wrong". He did not elaborate on which part, or parts, are inaccurate.
Trump has until Oct. 15 to certify Iran is in compliance with the landmark accord, and that the deal is in the U.S.' national security interest.
Before meeting with top military brass at the White House, Trump reiterated claims that Iran has not lived up to the spirit of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying he will make his decision public "very shortly".
If he chooses to "decertify" the deal it could be a first step to the U.S. reimposing its international sanctions regime Tehran, which would likely derail the JCPOA.
The agreement provided Iran with billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for widespread curbs on and access to its nuclear program.
Defense Secretary James Mattis told lawmakers Tuesday it is in the best of U.S. national security to remain in the deal.
"If we can confirm that Iran is living by the agreement, if we can determine that this is in our best interests, then clearly, we should stay with it," Mattis testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee. "I believe at this point in time, absent indications to the contrary, it is something the president should consider staying with."
During the same hearing, Gen. Joseph Dunford said he believes Iran is not in material breach of the accord, which he believes has delayed Tehran’s nuclear capability.
The White House said Trump's "team has presented a united strategy that the national security team all stands behind and supports. And the President will make that announcement soon.”
A unilateral U.S. exit from the agreement would likely have undesirable consequences for Washington -- isolating it from its negotiating partners that include close European allies, and potentially forcing Washington to sanction them if they continue to keep with the accord's parameters.
