Former National Security Adviser John Bolton has said US President Joe Biden could be making a “treasonous” deal with Iran if his administration offers guarantees that future US presidents would be constrained from exiting a renewed nuclear accord with Tehran.
According to the Washington Times, Bolton said Wednesday that a future Republican administration undoubtedly would seek to overturn whatever agreement the current administration makes with Iran.
He made the assertions in an exchange with journalists in Washington amid reports that Iranian negotiators have sought “guarantees” from the Biden administration that Tehran would be “compensated” if an American president pulls out of whatever deal may be reached.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the administration is reviewing Tehran’s response to what it called a “final text” that the European Union circulated recently with a proposed pathway for restoring the 2015 nuclear deal, which sought to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
The EU also said on Tuesday it was studying Iran's response to the proposal to save the deal after Tehran called on Washington to show flexibility.
After 16 months of fitful, indirect US-Iranian talks, with the EU shuttling between the parties, a senior EU official said on Aug. 8 the bloc had laid down a "final" offer and expected a response within a "very, very few weeks".
Iran responded to the proposal late on Monday but none of the parties provided any details.
Washington has said it is ready to quickly seal a deal to restore the 2015 accord on the basis of the EU proposals.