TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s foreign minister was due to leave Saturday for a whirlwind diplomatic tour as world leaders scramble to salvage something from the wreckage of a landmark nuclear deal in the wake of Washington’s withdrawal. “Iran’s Military Budget is up more than 40 percent since the Obama negotiated Nuclear Deal was reached…just another indicator that it was all a big lie,” he wrote. “Since the signing of the JCPOA (nuclear deal), we have gone from an atmosphere like a gold rush, to one of utter depression,” said a Western trade diplomat on condition of anonymity. Iranian hardliners — who have long opposed President Hassan Rouhani’s moves to improve ties with the West — are already mobilizing against the efforts to save the nuclear deal. Khamenei said this week he is highly doubtful that Europe will provide the “real guarantees” needed for Iran to stay in the nuclear deal.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 12, 2018 23:37 UTC