Christine Drews Sieger
Trump linked a new Iran agreement to fresh criticism of Barack Obama, claiming Iranian officials mocked the former president while revisiting the controversial $1.7 billion payment to Tehran.
Donald Trump on Monday linked his latest Iran deal to renewed criticism of former President Barack Obama during the G7 summit in France, TMZ reports.
According to Trump, the agreement he says he has reached with Iran could help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has long been a focal point of tensions between Iran and the West.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important chokepoints for oil transportation. According to the EIA, around 21% of global oil consumption passes through the strait.
At the same time, the U.S. president made it clear that he remains skeptical of the approach the Obama administration took toward Tehran.
Criticism of Predecessor
During a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Trump revisited the nuclear agreement reached between the United States and Iran under Obama.
The nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, was signed in 2015 by Iran and several world powers. Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program and international inspections, while a number of economic sanctions were lifted. Trump later withdrew the United States from the agreement during his first term in office, according to Britannica.
Trump also used the opportunity to claim that senior Iranian officials had little respect for Barack Obama during his presidency.
He further stated that, in his view, Iranian officials referred to Obama as a “stupid idiot” and laughed at American decisions made during that period, according to TMZ.
Dispute Over Payment
As part of his criticism, Trump once again referred to the transfer of $1.7 billion, that he claims Obama gave to Iran in 2016,
The $1.7 billion Trump referenced was part of a settlement involving funds that had been the subject of a long-running dispute between the United States and Iran dating back to the period before the 1979 revolution, according to Factually.
The amount consisted of $400 million in original Iranian funds, plus approximately $1.3 billion in interest.
At the time, the White House maintained that the payment was a separate matter and was not linked to the nuclear agreement. However, uncertainty remains over whether the deal will lead to a lasting de-escalation between the parties.
The president has also warned of possible additional military strikes if he concludes that the agreement is not being upheld, TMZ reports.
Sources: TMZ, EIA, Britannica, Factually
