Iran not 'living up to spirit' of nuclear deal: Trump
President Donald Trump on Thursday blasted Iran for not "living up to the spirit" of the nuclear deal it reached in 2015 with world powers including the United States, and reiterated that he thought it was a "horrible agreement."
"I don't think Iran is in compliance," Trump said from his golf club retreat in New Jersey, where he is spending two weeks away from Washington for a working vacation.
"I don't think they're living up to the spirit of the agreement."
On July 17, the White House certified that the Islamic republic was in fact sticking to the nuclear agreement.
Trump also said he was "very close" to revealing his keenly awaited decision on the number of US troops he plans to keep in Afghanistan.
The White House has launched a review of the US plan for Afghanistan after 16 years of war, and reports suggest that Trump's national security team is divided on whether to send more troops or to pull out. Reports have suggested that other Trump advisers favor cutting American losses by pulling out or sending private military contractors to replace troops.
The report came as an US airstrike in eastern Afghanistan killed 11 people of the same family, local officials said yesterday.
Trump also thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering the US embassy in Moscow to slash its staff -- boasting that this would cut payroll costs.
Last month, the Kremlin demanded that Washington reduce its diplomatic footprint in Russia by 755 employees -- both US diplomats and local staff -- and close two compounds.
"I want to thank him because we're trying to cut down our payroll and, as far as I'm concerned, I'm very thankful that he let go of a large number of people because now we have a smaller payroll," Trump declared.
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