Republican House Armed Service chair warns Trump against leaving Iran deal
WASHINGTON - The Republican leader of the US House Armed Services Committee said President Trump should not walk away from the Iran nuclear deal.
President Donald Trump is facing a May 12 deadline on whether to re-impose sanctions against Iran. Texas Congressman Mac Thornberry said on Fox News Sunday it would be a mistake for Trump to scuttle the nuclear accord reached with Tehran. "I would counsel against it," he said.
As Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Thornberry is considered a key Republican voice on national security issues. Thornberry said that while he was opposed to the deal when it was signed by the Obama Administration in 2015, exiting the agreement now would erode Washington's leverage against Tehran.
"I thought it was a bad deal," he said. "But the key question is, ok, what happens next if the US pulls out? Does Iran kick out those inspectors so we lose the visibility we have?"
