Donald Trump criticises President Obama for 'dumb, terrible' nuclear deal with Iran

Donald Trump says the US government should have pressured Iran into releasing four Americans imprisoned in Tehran. Reuters

Republican presidential aspirant Donald Trump has criticised US President Barack Obama for entering into a "dumb" nuclear deal with Iran.

Trump said in a radio interview that the Obama administration failed to negotiate with Iran from a position of strength.

The controversial business tycoon said the US government should have exerted more pressure on Iran to totally abandon its plan to build nuclear weapons by imposing more sanctions on them.

"I guarantee you if I was involved, they would have let 'em out... They should have doubled up the sanctions, and negotiated from strength," Trump said in an interview last Sunday in New York with WABC Radio.

"They could have sanctioned the hell out of 'em. There would be no war – they would have come to the table, we would have won everything," he added.

Iran earlier agreed to limit its nuclear activities, in return for an end to international sanctions against it. The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on the resolution endorsing the Iran nuclear deal next week.

Trump, however, described the Iran nuclear deal as "terrible."

"[It's] just insulting. It's such a bad deal... One of the really dumb deals I've ever seen," he said.

The Republican presidential aspirant further said the US government should have pressured Iran into releasing four Americans imprisoned in Tehran.

"How do you complicate the negotiations by asking for four people that should not be in jail? It is so disgraceful the way this was handled, and it shouldn't have taken this time. They should have doubled up the sanctions. And I mean double and triple up the sanctions, and had them come home," Trump said.

"They don't have the cards – we have the cards," he added.

Trump further said that Iran's chief negotiator, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, outwitted American officials.

"This guy is too smart, and he's too sharp, and he's too cunning for [Secretary of State John] Kerry, and our bunch of negotiators," Trump said.

related articles
Donald Trump: \'I will be the greatest representative of Christians if I win the White House\'
Donald Trump: 'I will be the greatest representative of Christians if I win the White House'

Donald Trump: 'I will be the greatest representative of Christians if I win the White House'

Donald Trump says he\'ll \'bomb the hell\' out of ISIS, targeting its oil, if elected president
Donald Trump says he'll 'bomb the hell' out of ISIS, targeting its oil, if elected president

Donald Trump says he'll 'bomb the hell' out of ISIS, targeting its oil, if elected president

Republican presidential bets unite against \'dangerous\' and \'flawed\' Iran nuclear deal
Republican presidential bets unite against 'dangerous' and 'flawed' Iran nuclear deal

Republican presidential bets unite against 'dangerous' and 'flawed' Iran nuclear deal

Franklin Graham questions Obama nuke deal with Iran, a country with terror ties
Franklin Graham questions Obama nuke deal with Iran, a country with terror ties

Franklin Graham questions Obama nuke deal with Iran, a country with terror ties

News
Illinois community coming together to purchase Pope's old home
Illinois community coming together to purchase Pope's old home

Debt-hit town in Illinois is looking to buy the Pope's childhood home.

Fear, denial and control: Why the Cuban government prohibits the most natural responses to the country’s dire humanitarian needs
Fear, denial and control: Why the Cuban government prohibits the most natural responses to the country’s dire humanitarian needs

It may be hard to fathom how such pettiness plays into the government’s wider crackdown on FoRB and other fundamental human rights, or how on earth it could justify extending its repression to children, but ultimately it all comes down to fear.

On striving for destiny
On striving for destiny

Hebrew scholar and Jewish academic Irene Lancaster reflects on Numbers, leadership and destiny.