WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday offered qualified support for the Iran nuclear deal, ahead of an announcement by President Donald Trump on whether to stick with the agreement.
While deferring to the president’s review, Mattis said he would support staying in the Iran nuclear deal if the United States could determine that Iran was abiding by the agreement and it was in the best interest of the United States.
“The point I would make is that if we can confirm that Iran is living by the agreement, if we can determine that this is in our best interest, then clearly we should stay with it,” Mattis said in a Senate hearing. “I believe at this point in time, absent indications to the contrary, it is something that the president should consider staying with,” Mattis added.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart)
US defense chief suggests sticking with Iran nuclear deal
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