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Intel: Trump administration defended Iran nuclear waivers as 'restrictions,' then ended them

The Donald Trump administration ended sanctions waivers on Iranian nuclear facilities today — a mere two months after characterizing them as “restrictions” on Iran’s nuclear program.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to the media at the State Department in Washington, DC, U.S., May 20, 2020. Nicholas Kamm/Pool via REUTERS - RC2FSG9O20JT

The Donald Trump administration today ended sanctions waivers that allowed foreign companies to do work at certain Iranian nuclear facilities. The move comes a mere two months after the administration had characterized the waivers as “restrictions” on Iran’s nuclear program.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the United States would end three of the remaining waivers — some of the last remnants of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — after a two-month wind-down period. At the same time, he announced that the United States would renew a fourth waiver for three months.

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