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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 18 June 2019

U.S. sending more troops to Middle East as Iran tensions mount

Continued from Front the worst deal in history. tration maintains its “maxi-
Iran announced Monday it mum pressure” campaign
The decision to send 1,000 would break a limit on ura- of sanctions.
troops signals a measured nium stockpiles established Administration officials are
approached by President by a 2015 agreement with grappling with whether to
Donald Trump, who cam- world powers that was in- press the remaining par-
paigned against the Mid- tended to restrict the Is- ties to the deal, including
east entanglements of lamic Republic’s nuclear Britain, France and Ger-
his predecessors and has program in exchange for many, to demand that Iran
struggled to bring troops an easing of international stay in compliance. They
home, despite ongoing sanctions. must also consider if such
threats. Trump withdrew from the a stance would essentially
“The United States does agreement, signed by his concede that the restric-
not seek conflict with Iran,” predecessor, and rein- tions imposed during the
Shanahan said. “The ac- stated punishing econom- Obama administration,
tion today is being taken to ic sanctions, resulting in Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino speaks with reporters while short of ideal, are
ensure the safety and wel- sharply rising tensions that following a news conference at the State Department in better than none.
fare of our military person- deteriorated further with Washington, Monday, June 17, 2019. Under the deal, Iran can
nel working throughout the Iran’s warning that it could Associated Press keep a stockpile of no
region and to protect our soon start to enrich urani- Control Association said in trusive monitoring and veri- more than 660 pounds (300
national interests.” He add- um to just a step away from a statement. “It remains in fication.” kilograms) of low-enriched
ed that the U.S. will contin- weapons-grade levels. Iran’s interests to abide by Iran has shown no willing- uranium. Behrouz Kamal-
ue to adjust troop levels as “We continue to call on the limits of the agreement ness to negotiate another vandi, spokesman for Iran’s
needed. the Iranian regime not to and to fully cooperate with deal and vowed not enter atomic agency, said it
The troop decision comes obtain a nuclear weapon, the International Atomic into talks with the United would pass that limit June
as Secretary of State Mike to abide by their commit- Energy Agency’s more in- States while the adminis- 27.q
Pompeo and other top of- ments to the international
ficials reached out to lead- community,” State Depart-
ers in Asia and Europe to ment spokeswoman Mor-
convince them that Iran gan Ortagus told reporters.
was behind the alleged Ortagus said Iran’s uranium
attacks on ships in the Mid- announcement amount-
dle East. The Pentagon re- ed to “extortion” and a
leased new photos intend- “challenge to international
ed to bolster its case that norms,” as well as to the
Iran was to blame. 2015 agreement known
The images, many taken formally as the Joint Com-
from a Navy helicopter, prehensive Plan of Action.
show what the Pentagon “It’s unfortunate that they
said were Iranian forces have made this announce-
removing an unexploded ment today,” Ortagus said.
mine from the side of the “It doesn’t surprise any-
Japanese-owned Kokuka body and this is why the
Courageous oil tanker in president has often said
the Gulf of Oman. that the JCPOA needs to
Officials last week said the be replaced with a better
move appeared to be an deal.”
attempt to remove forensic Supporters of the deal
evidence from the scene blamed the Trump ad-
of the attack. But it’s not ministration for Iran’s pro-
clear if examination of the vocative announcements,
mine would have made it saying they were entirely
definitively clear that the predictable given the re-
device was planted by the newed U.S. pressure.
IRGC. “While Iran’s frustration
The Trump administration with Trump’s reckless and
also finds itself in the awk- irresponsible pressure cam-
ward position of demand- paign is understandable,
ing that Iran comply with we strongly urge Iran to
a nuclear accord that the remain in compliance with
president has derided as the nuclear deal,” the Arms