She said that pushing back on “Iran’s aggressive efforts” to increase its “arc of influence from Tehran through to the Mediterranean” is a priority for the UK, and has taken a tougher stance since reestablishing diplomatic relations 18 months ago.
Donald Trump claimed during his election campaign that he would rip up the Nuclear Deal brokered with Iran by the US and six other nations, which prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons in return for easing sanctions and opening trade.
“The nuclear deal with Iran was controversial but it has neutralized the possibility of the Iranians acquiring nuclear weapons for more than a decade,” Ms. May said. However, she also warned that it should be “rigorously policed” and all breaches of the deal should be dealt with “firmly and immediately”
She added, “It has seen Iran remove more than 13,000 centrifuges together with associated infrastructure and eliminated its stock of 20 per cent enriched uranium. That was vitally important for regional security but the agreement must now be very carefully and rigorously policed and any breaches should be dealt with firmly and immediately.”
John Brennan, CIA Director, has also warned that it would also be an unprecedented move, and be the “height of folly if the next administration were to tear up that agreement.”
Mike Pompeo, who will replace Mr. Brennan as CIA Director under President Trump, wrote on Twitter in January that he looked “forward to rolling back this disastrous deal with the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism.”
