WHY is Trump picking a fight with Iran?

Russia and Iran have had a complicated relationship in the past. I think Russia wants something from Iran and perhaps the US. This may give Russia the additional leverage it needs - I assume they will then play the mediator between Iran and the west as they have before.

Seriously, I just do not understand Trump's thinking behind this (if there IS Trump's thinking behind this, that is, and not some creepy-crawly "adviser" who got Trump's ear at the right time goading him into this)

!. Why did he do this? Trump did this to shore up support from his base.

2. He did not do this because of his advisers. In fact, his advisers cautioned him not to do this!

 As if to excite Trump's base or whatever?

Correct!!!

Trump has no beef with Iran.  Trump has no idea if the nuclear deal is a good one or not and he could not care less if it is or it isn't.  Trump wants to destroy the Iran deal because Obama got it done, period.  Trump's biggest motivation is destroying everything Obama did.

I agree.   Another motivation is that in his ignorance Trump made a campaign pledge to pull out of the JCPOA.   Apparently what he's doing now is just more pandering to his mindless base, and he's been outraged that none of the key people in the DOD or State Dept are supporting him.

Apparently what he's doing now is just more pandering to his mindless base, and he's been outraged that none of the key people in the DOD or State Dept are supporting him.

I believe I've also heard that all (or  ost?) of his current advisers had urged him not to do this   ...

(:Iran is sticking to the terms of the agreement. Their government is doing a lot of other nasty stuff in the region-- but the fact is as far as this agreement goes-- they are abiding by the terms)

How do you explain Iran's violations of the nuclear deal?  I will use a leftist source the Huffington Post.

huffingtonpost

The range of existing Iranian ballistic missiles has grown from 500 miles to over 2,000 kilometers (roughly 1,250 miles), which can easily reach Eastern Europe as well as countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Yemen.

Iranian leaders dismiss the notion that the Revolutionary Guard Corps military activities are breaching the nuclear agreement as well as several of the UN Security Council resolutions. World powers appear to acquiesce to Iran’s stance as well.

But, the United Nations Security Council resolution (Paragraph 3 of Annex B of   resolution   2231, 2015) is clear. The resolution “calls upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.”

The second UN Security Council resolution 1929   indicates   “Iran shall not undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology, and that States shall take all necessary measures to prevent the transfer of technology or technical assistance to Iran related to such activities”.

In addition, the Joint Plan of Action Agreement (JCPOA) of the nuclear agreement between P5+1 and Iran is crystal clear in stating that Iran should not   undertake   any ballistic missiles activity “until the date eight years after the JCPOA Adoption Day or until the date on which the IAEA submits a report confirming the Broader Conclusion, whichever is earlier.”

Oh, and for those that scoff at Iran attacking Israel.  If Iran chooses that path the US will automatically be at war. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/05/30/map-the-u-s-is-bound-by-treaties-to-defend-a-quarter-of-humanity/?utm_term=.a2e1c193f755

Beckley also includes two countries where no formal defense agreement has been signed (Israel and Taiwan), arguing that the Taiwan Relations Act and American pledges to support Israel act as de facto pledges of support.

By this count, 69 countries have some form of defense pact with the United States, and as Beckley notes, they make up around 75 percent of the world's economic output. By WorldViews' own count, the combined population of these countries and the United States itself is in excess of 2 billion.

Also, the deal did nothing to address Iranian terrorist influence in the rest of the Middle East.  

reuters

Macron, whose country had been one of the toughest negotiators during the talks between Britain, China, Germany Russia, United States and Iran, repeated that it would be an error to scrap the deal.

“Is this agreement enough? No. It is not, given the evolution of the regional situation and increasing pressure that Iran is exerting on the region, and given increased activity by Iran on the ballistic level since the accord,” Macron told reporters in New York.

Macron said he wanted to discuss possible sanctions over Iran’s ballistic missile program, open negotiations immediately on what happens after the limitations to the accord begin to be lifted in 2025 and hold a discussion on the role of Iran in the region.

“Let’s be honest, the tensions are on the rise, look at the activities of Hezbollah and Iran’s pressure on Syria. We need a clear framework to be able to reassure regional countries and the United States,” Macron said, adding that he was ready to mediate between the United States and Iran.

Of course Macron wants the agreement to hold; but won't admit the obvious errors in it.

theatlantic

I am sure the 8 member council (which includes Iran) will find them in non compliance on, and snap sanctions back in place.  It has already happened with their violations on ballistic missiles./S

Iran already stated they would walk away from the deal if sanctions were re-enacted; and Russia and China said they would not honor new sanctions; so it worthless.

2231, 2015) is clear. The resolution “calls upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.”

So, where are we seeing these ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads? This is where the argument hinges and gets weak....Do they have ballistic missile capability? Yes. Is it capable of carrying nuclear weapons? seems not since the rest of the parties agree that Iran is within the agreement.

I am sure the 8 member council (which includes Iran) will find them in non compliance on, and snap sanctions back in place.  It has already happened with their violations on ballistic missiles./S

Iran already stated they would walk away from the deal if sanctions were re-enacted; and Russia and China said they would not honor new sanctions; so it worthless.

Failed to read this part of my comment?  The sanctions will not snap back in place. Russia, China, and Iran are on the 8 country council.  That means they only need to swing 1 more vote over to them.  France, Germany, England, and the rest of the NATO allies already are counting on trade with Iran to bolster their economies.  The snap back will never take place.

I am sure that Iran is developing ballistic missile technology to send conventional warheads. Do I even need a sarcasm tag? 

Iran won't permit inspections of their military sites. Now if YOU were Iran, where you be working those centrifuges? And the fools believe them...

Iran won't permit inspections of their military sites. Now if YOU were Iran, where you be working those centrifuges?

I suspect you folks need to learn how the JCPOA and the NPT's Additional Protocol work.   You also might want to learn why the IAEA and the State Dept both say that Iran is complying.

And no country on the planet allows unrestricted foreign access to its military sites.

.

The biggest problem here is that Trump is proving to our allies and our adversaries that the US is an unreliable partner and can't be trusted to negotiate in good faith.     That blows any diplomacy with NK and Iran out of the water.

The IAEA isn't just any foreign organization. Iran agreed to inspections in order to secure the "deal". And in their reports IAEA provides the caveat that they were not allowed to inspect the military sites, so with respect to the sites they are allowed to see, they may be correct that Iran is complying, but.....

Iran agreed to inspections in order to secure the "deal". And in their reports IAEA provides the caveat that they were not allowed to inspect the military sites

I suggest you learn about the details of the JCPOA and the Additional Protocol since there is no provision for unannounced access to non-nuclear military sites.    However there is a formal procedure for accessing suspected nuclear sites which are undeclared.     And if Iran foolishly were to do what you imply it would constitute a fundamental breach of the JCPOA and the NPT.

The bottom line is that Iran has complied with the agreement according to all parties except the Moron in Chief.    His efforts to torpedo the JCPOA will reflect very badly on the US.

The bottom line is that Iran has complied with the agreement according to all parties except the Moron in Chief.

Even the Israeli Military and Intelligence folk agree on with you on that simple fact Skrekk.

Netanyahu at Odds With Israeli Military and Intelligence Brass Over Whether to Push Trump to Scrap Iran Nuclear Dea l

Netanyahu and Lieberman’s position is at odds with most Israeli experts in Military Intelligence and in the IDF’s Planning Directorate, the Mossad, Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Committee.

Despite Netanyahu’s wish that Trump announces that Iran isn’t complying with the nuclear deal, all Israeli intelligence bodies dealing with the Iranian issue are united in the opinion that in the two years and two months that have passed since the agreement was signed in Vienna, Iran hasn’t been caught violating a single clause. Also, the Israeli intelligence community has no evidence that the Iranians have resumed their nuclear project and gone back on their commitments.

Pretty sad state of affairs when Iran's word has more worth than that of America's.

Netanyahu at Odds With Israeli Military and Intelligence Brass Over Whether to Push Trump to Scrap Iran Nuclear Deal

True.

And interestingly, Netanyahu is also at odds with Israeli Military &intelligence branch over whether to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iran. 

They are strongly against it!!!

in their self interestHow come this sounds like the prelude to the Iraq War 2.0?

I

ve been on the Internet for many, many uyears. Every so often someone posts "evidence" that Israel is about to launch a pre=emtive strike on Iran-- or that Iran is about to launch such a strike on Israel.

What they don't realize is that while most politicians worldwide are prone to hyperbole-- those in the Middle east are even more so! Inflammatory rhetoric is the norm...

There's no doubt in my mind that Israel will not launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran-- and Iran won't launch a pre-emptive strike on Israel.

Why?

Because what some of the self-proclaimed military experts on NT fail to realize is that nations act in their self interest-- not on some f the ideals that Internet users hold so dear! And while they like to bluster and rant and rave-- both the Iranians know that if they started a war with the other side they'd have nothing to gain! (And-- they'd have a lot to lose). 

Just click the links:

"German intelligence reports  indicate that Iran tried at least 32 times to procure equipment probably or definitely related to nuclear or ballistic missile proliferation in 2016.

The  IAEA has admitted  it cannot inspect the very military sites where Iran’s illicit nuclear activities are likely to be carried out under  Section T of the Iran Deal . The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) recently released an  investigative report alleging four such major sites that “with high degrees of certainty” are involved in aspects of an ongoing military nuclear program. Iran has said it is  unwilling to provide access to such military sites ."

"And if Iran foolishly were to do what you imply it would constitute a fundamental breach of the JCPOA and the NPT."

Iran has a history of contravening UN resolutions and sanctions, which has caused the UN to impose more and more of them.  Do you want to see a history of sanctions that have been imposed upon Iran?

The idiot Trump seems to think if the USA pulls out of the agreement that the agreement will fall down.

Not even close. In fact the agreement will go on and the biggest loser will be the USA. The biggest winners will be the remaining nations that are in the agreement. We will just get by-passed in the trade benefits. Yep, Trump can impose sanctions unilaterally and we'd be laughed at. We have no bite in this and anything he does to the contrary will only end up hurting us, just like he did with the Pacific trade deal...See how that went south? It didn't. The void of the US participation was filled in by the other countries and we're sitting on the outside looking in. His tirade about NAFTA is going to do even more damage.

Trump is going to isolate us to he point that we are no longer of any significance to anyone. We won't need much of a manufacturing base because international trade will be minuscule due to the tariffs applied, the world will just work around us.

Congratulations righties, you got exactly what you asked for, wait until you find out what it's going to cost...and you'll try to blame someone else.

We're heading for another deep recession, and the countries that he pissed off are going to stand and watch as we implode and our implosion will have very little effect on global economies.

You elected Sarah Palin....

You said it Joe, they did get exactly what they wanted. Trump campaigned on banning Muslims, destroying the Iran deal, getting 'tough' with North Korea, building the wall, and even befriending Russia while alienating our European allies.  They wanted this; they got it.  His Obama-hating base WANTS him to undo everything Obama did, no matter what the consequences.  Trump is the same petulant child, the same racist pig, the same loud-mouthed moron, that his adoring fans loved and voted for.  Trump is not to blame for any of this, he's trying his damndest to make good on everything he promised the human filth who voted for him.  This is on them.

Things are going well for me. Business is doing well and Trump put the brakes on all that nonsense about the successful need to get bent over and screwed worse than they already are crap Obama was spewing. I like most of what I’ve seen from Trump it’s the Rinos like McCain that need to go so we can get the repeals and cuts to Trumps desk. I’m sure the takers aren’t happy with him and that’s fine with me. 

Things are going well for me. Business is doing well and Trump put the brakes on all that nonsense about the successful need to get bent over and screwed worse than they already are crap Obama was spewing.

Things are going well for me too, right now. Trump has done zero to improve your business or mine. So how can you credit him with anything? Not one major bit of legislation yet from this administration, 100 Executive orders....No repeal and replace, no change in the tax code, so what has he done to get rid of Obama's spew?

 He hasn't even addressed the economy which is about to take a dive...but he sure can ride the coat tails of the last administration! Who gets the blame when the recession comes? All three branches are Republican controlled.

 He hasn't even addressed the economy which is about to take a dive...but he sure can ride the coat tails of the last administration! Who gets the blame when the recession comes? All three branches are Republican controlled.

Wait a minute, how can the economy be about to take a dive when this is still the Obama economy; as according to you Trump has done nothing to affect the economy?  You can't have it both ways.  Either this is still the Obama economy and it is about ready to go under; or Trump is responsible for the gains- and any subsequent losses if it does tank.  

I am guessing that everyone forgot that Iran has been "fighting" with us since 1979? Pretty sure Trump did not pick that fight.

Actually we have been fighting with Iran since August 1953.

The Iranians have long memories. It explains a lot of their behavior towards the West.