Trump Condemns Kerry’s ‘Shadow Diplomacy’ For Iran Nuclear Deal

Secretary of State John Kerry, left, speaks with Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz during the seventh U.S. – E.U. Energy Security Council meeting, during the U.S. Caribbean-Central American Energy Summit at the State Department, Wednesday, May 4, 2016 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
FILE - In this May 4, 2016 file photo, Secretary of State John Kerry, left, speaks with Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz at the State Department in Washington. Former Obama administration officials who played central... FILE - In this May 4, 2016 file photo, Secretary of State John Kerry, left, speaks with Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz at the State Department in Washington. Former Obama administration officials who played central roles in brokering the Iran nuclear agreement are scheduled to brief congressional Democrats on the merits of the international accord as President Donald Trump prepares to announce a decision that could lead to an unraveling of the pact. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Donald Trump on Monday condemned what he called the “shadow diplomacy” of former Secretary of State John Kerry, borrowing a phrase from a Boston Globe report last week on Kerry’s continued advocacy on behalf of the Iran nuclear deal.

The Globe reported that Kerry and others were engaged in “shadow diplomacy” with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, top European Union official Federica Mogherini and others including French President Emmanuel Macron.

One source quoted by the Globe noted the effort was kept quiet in part to avoid a spiteful reaction from Trump, who has long opposed the nuclear deal.

After repeatedly affirming that Iran had complied with the deal, which requires the President’s sign-off every 120 days, Trump decertified the deal in October, citing Iran’s violations of the “spirit” of the agreement. Still, Congress did not take the opportunity to reinstate sanctions on Iran. And in January, Trump continued waiving sanctions on Iran.

The President has threatened to nuke the deal and reinstate sanctions on the next deadline, May 12.

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: