Iran nuclear deal - live updates: Obama calls Trump decision to withdraw from accord a 'serious mistake'

European leaders warn the US pulling out of agreement will scupper deal and undo years of work

Donald Trump withdraws from nuclear deal with Iran

President Donald Trump has pulled the United States from the Iran nuclear deal and is set to reimpose severe sanctions on Tehran, in a decisive break with European allies that could also bring a new crisis in the Gulf.

Mr Trump said the sanctions, which will violate the international nuclear agreement, would penalise Iran for what he described as “state-sponsored terror” in the Middle East, which works against the United States and its allies. The president said that "any nation that helps Iran in its quest for nuclear weapons could be strongly sanctioned" as he signed an order that would re-impose sanctions on foreign countries that continue to do business with Iran.

In a speech at the White House, Mr Trump said the Iran deal was “decaying and rotten” and “defective at its core”. He cited the Iranian development of ballistic missiles – an issue not addressed in the deal – as a breach of the spirit of the deal by Iran, which he said has “murdered hundreds of American service members, and kidnapped, imprisoned and tortured American citizens”.

“I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal,” Mr Trump said, undermining what had been the biggest foreign policy success for his predecessor, Barack Obama. Mr Obama called the decision "misguided" and a "serious mistake".

The decision follows weeks of speculation about what Mr Trump would do, as officials from France, the UK and Germany – the three European signatories on the Iranian deal – worked to try to convince Mr Trump to keep the agreement intact ahead of a 12 May deadline.

Mr Trump's decision means Iran's government must now decide whether to follow the US and withdraw or try to salvage what's left of the deal. Berlin, London and Paris have all the urged the US not to take any actions that could prevent them and Iran from continuing to implement the agreement.

However, in Washington, the Trump administration said it would re-impose sanctions on Iran immediately but allow grace periods for businesses to wind down activity.

The US Treasury Department said there would be “certain 90-day and 180-day wind-down periods” but didn't specify which sanctions would fall under which timelines. The department said that at the end of those periods, the sanctions will be in “full effect.”

National Security Adviser John Bolton said nobody should sign contracts for new business with Iran.

It is not clear exactly what will happen to the Iran deal now that the United States is no longer a party, as those other countries and Iran may find a way to keep some semblance of the deal together. Iran's main regional rivals, Israel and Saudi Arabia, both praised Mr Trump's decision.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that the deal could survive if Mr Trump pulls away, a statement that is buoyed by the fact that the thawed relations between Iran and Europe has allowed European entities to start doing business within Iran.

But while he appears willing to try and keep the agreement in place, Mr Rouhani said in the wake of Mr Trump's address that he has “ordered the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran to be ready to start the enrichment of uranium at industrial levels”, but added that he would “wait a few weeks” to start that enrichment so that Iran can speak to allies and the other countries in the deal.

“All depends on our national interests,” Mr Rouhani said of whether he will restart the enrichment.

There have been concerns from some in the US Congress and beyond that a decision to violate the Iran agreement would impact on the upcoming summit between Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic programmes. Perhaps mindful of this, Mr Trump said during his announcement that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on his way to the North Korean capital and that he would arrive "€œvery shortly". Mr Trump said that the two countries had already agreed on a date and location for the unprecedented summit, though he stopped short of providing details.

Mr Trump's national Security Adviser John Bolton said the Iran decision would not derail a parallel effort to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear programme, arguing that the abandonment of the Iran pact would strengthen America’s position by telegraphing that the US would rebuff unsatisfactory offers.

“I think the message to North Korea is the president wants a real deal”, Mr Bolton told reporters. “It sends a very clear signal that the United States will not accept inadequate deals”.

“Any nation reserves the right to correct a past mistake”, Mr Bolton added in reference to the Iran deal.

Additional reporting by agencies

Key Points

• What happens if Donald Trump pulls the US out of the Iran nuclear deal?
• Iran's president acknowledges country could "face some problems" over US leaving agreement
• European nations reiterate support for deal

[8 May 2018 18:18 · Steve Anderson]

A number of those who worked in the administration of Barack Obama - and indeed before that - and were involved with Iran sanctions have expressed their dismay at Mr Trump's apparent stance on the deal.

Kelly Magsamen held senior security positions in the Obama administration, and his predecessor George W Bush. She said she is "horrified" at the thought of removing years of hard work.

[8 May 2018 18:24 · Steve Anderson]

When it comes to sanctions, Mr Trump has a choice - lift the waiver and impose all the sanctions that had been stopped by the deal. Or take a softer approach that leaves more room for negotiation.

The harder stance is what European allies fear, as it will mean businesses will have to choice between working in Iran or steering clear of US penalties. It will also make it much harder for Europe to keep the deal together even in America's absence, with Tehran unlikely to take kindly to such an aggressive move.

[8 May 2018 18:27 · Steve Anderson]

Activists and nuclear control advocates have made their feelings clear about a possible withdrawal.

Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) called such a decision "so stupid".

[8 May 2018 18:37 · Steve Anderson]

We are now getting reports that Trump administration officials are said to be telling these in Congress that there will be a US withdrawal from the Iran deal.

Mr Trump's announcement is less than 30 mins away from its scheduled start time.

[8 May 2018 18:56 · Steve Anderson]

Some in Congress have said that pulling out of the Iran deal would send the wrong message ahead of talks with North Korea over the same issue of their nuclear programme.

Republican Adam Schiff called it the "wrong move".

[8 May 2018 18:58 · Steve Anderson]

Iran's state-run news agency is quoting an anonymous official saying President Hassan Rouhani will give a televised address in the wake of Mr Trump's announcement.

IRNA filed the report late Tuesday, just ahead of Mr Trump's speech from the White House's Diplomatic Room. 

IRNA offered no other immediate details. 

[8 May 2018 19:05 · Steve Anderson]

In case you missed it earlier, here is what is expected to happen if Mr Trump does pull out of the deal.

[8 May 2018 19:11 · Steve Anderson]

Mr Trump is expected any minute, US networks already lining up their camera shots of the empty podium.

A reminder that a withdrawal would be another campaign promise fulfilled for the president - but the international community would not be happy.

[8 May 2018 19:14 · Steve Anderson]

Here is Mr Trump - he calls Iran the "leading state sponsor of terrorism".

[8 May 2018 19:16 · Steve Anderson]

Turning to the agreement - he says "in theory" it was aimed at protecting the US and its allies

"In fact the deal allowed Iran.. to reach the brink of a nuclear breakthrough" and had no effect on Iran's "malign" activities in Syria and Yemen.