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Wednesday 4 OctOber 2017
Pentagon: Iran deal’s future may hinge
Afghan troop boost to cost $1 billion on face-saving fix for Trump

By RICHARD LARDNER negotiated by the United “We want to be your part-
Associated Press States and signaled he ners,” McCain said. “But By BRADLEY KLAPPER Chiefs of Staff, told the Sen-
MATTHEW LEE
ate Foreign Relations Com-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The may abandon the agree- this committee will not be
U.S. military’s top leaders ment. a rubber stamp for any pol- Associated Press mittee on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Asked if he believed stay-
told lawmakers Tuesday The release of the Afghan icy or president. We must
that the thousands of addi- war cost information came be well-informed. We must future of the Iran nuclear ing in the deal was in Amer-
deal may hinge on a face-
ica’s national security inter-
tional U.S. troops President as Sen. John McCain, R- be convinced of the merits
Donald Trump has ordered Ariz., assailed Mattis and of the administration’s ac- saving fix for President Don- est, Defense Secretary Jim
ald Trump so he doesn’t Mattis said, “Yes, senator, I
have to recertify the Islam- do.”
ic republic’s compliance For U.S. officials involved in
every 90 days, according the decision-making pro-
to U.S. officials. cess, the focus on finding
Several officials familiar a way for Trump to avoid
with internal discussions say anything looking like ap-
the periodic reviews man- proval for the accord has
dated by Congress have become a source of frus-
become such a source of tration. Various options
embarrassment for Trump are in play to resolve the
that his national security problem, but none are
aides are seeking ways for clean solutions, accord-
him to stop signing off on ing to officials who weren’t
the seven-nation accord authorized to discuss the
without scuttling it entirely. private deliberations and
The president has called demanded anonymity.
the agreement one of The most likely strategy
America’s “worst and most centers on Trump not cer-
one-sided transactions” tifying Iran’s compliance
ever. Officials say what when he faces another
Trump hates most, howev- deadline Oct. 15. Below
er, is a provision in a 2015 the president, diplomats
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, left, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, right, speak U.S. law — known as the and officials would then
with Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., center, as they arrive to testify on Afghanistan before Iran Nuclear Agreement strive to manage any fall-
the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. Review Act — that requires out with Tehran and Ameri-
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) him to tell Congress every ca’s European allies by em-

to Afghanistan will cost just Marine Corps Gen. Joseph tions. And unfortunately, three months if Iran is meet- phasizing that the U.S. isn’t
over $1 billion a year, bring- Dunford, the chairman of we still have far more ques- ing promises to scale back leaving the deal or apply-
ing the total bill for fighting the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for tions than answers about its nuclear program in ex- ing new nuclear sanctions
America’s longest war to withholding from Congress this new strategy.”Mattis change for broad interna- on Iran. After that, Trump
$12.5 billion annually.Dur- key details about Trump’s and Dunford, who ap- tional relief from oil, trade wouldn’t have to address
ing wide-ranging hearings new strategy for winning in peared first before the Sen- and financial sanctions. the certification matter
on Capitol Hill, Defense Afghanistan that was an- ate panel and later before Because the U.N. nuclear again, officials said.
Secretary Jim Mattis also nounced six weeks ago. the House Armed Services watchdog has found Iran The State Department and
said that the United States McCain, the chairman of Committee, sought to as- in compliance, it’s difficult National Security Council
should remain in the nucle- the Armed Services Com- sure skeptical lawmakers for the U.S. administration declined to comment for
ar deal negotiated during mittee, declared that it that Trump’s plan for ex- to say otherwise. this story.
the Obama administration was “bizarre” that Mattis panding the U.S. presence But Trump has said repeat- The Iran review law pro-
that constrains Iran’s abil- and Dunford did not sub- in Afghanistan would pay edly that he doesn’t want vides a potential out for
ity to build a nuclear ar- mit written testimony be- off. Several members ex- to certify Iranian compli- Trump. The president must
senal. Trump has trashed fore the hearing started. pressed concern the U.S. ance again after having determine that Iran is im-
the international accord, That’s customary practice was wading more deeply done so twice already, plementing the nuclear
a cornerstone of Barack for administration witnesses into a conflict at great ex- declaring last month he deal and hasn’t commit-
Obama’s presidency, as testifying before congres- pense without prospects even had made his mind ted a “material breach,” or
the worst agreement ever sional committees. for long-term success.q up about what he’ll do taken action that could ad-
next. “Decertification” vance its nuclear weapons
In Kremlin visit: could lead Congress to re- program. It also demands
the president’s verdict on
introduce economic sanc-
New US ambassador to Russia meets Putin tions on Iran that were sus- a fourth question: whether
pended under the deal. suspending sanctions is
By N. VASILYEVA dor, arrived in Moscow on missions. If that happens, Iran has “appropriate and propor-
Associated Press Monday to take over from In his address to Huntsman, threatened to walk away tionate,” and if doing so is
MOSCOW (AP) — John Tefft, who left after Putin offered Russia’s con- from the arrangement and “vital to the national secu-
The new U.S. ambassador serving in Russia for three dolences over Monday’s restart activities that could rity interests of the United
to Russia presented his years, a period that was deadly shooting attack in take it closer to nuclear States.”
diplomatic credentials to marred by a deep and Las Vegas and expressed weapons. Mattis hinted his boss may
President Vladimir Putin at rapid deterioration of ties, hope for better ties with “Iran is not in material try to decertify without
a ceremony Tuesday in unseen since the end of the U.S. breach of the agreement breaking the deal.
the Kremlin, a move that the Cold War. The U.S.-Rus- “The current level of the and I do believe the agree- “You can talk about the
marks the formal start of sia relationship has soured ties cannot satisfy us,” ment to date has delayed conditions under one of
Jon Huntsman’s work in even further in recent Putin said. “We stand for the development of a nu- those, and not walk away
Russia. months following a series constructive, predictable clear capability by Iran,” from the other,” he said.
Huntsman, who has twice of expulsions of diplomats and mutually beneficial Gen. Joseph Dunford, “They’re two different piec-
served as a U.S. ambassa- and closures of diplomatic cooperation.” q the chairman of the Joint es.” q