Transcript: Trump Tirade on Iran Deal Accidentally Reveals It’s a Sham

So I think, Tom, what Trump has really done here is lock in a time frame that actually weakens his leverage over Iran over time. It weakens his leverage over Iran’s nuclear program over time. And Iran knows that. Am I right?

Nichols: I think so. And he’s also alluded to using a nuclear weapon at one point. He said, we still have the ultimate, you know— But I just find it hard to believe, although with this administration and this president you never know, that right after Labor Day, as everybody’s going into the midterms and he’s still trying to wait for good news on the economy, because remember what he really cares about is international markets. He’s going to say, OK, we’re starting up the war again. On what pretext? And also by that time, then he really will have to go to Congress or do something.

I mean, he surprised the country and the American people and the world by doing this when he did it. I don’t think you can go to that well twice. And I just don’t—I could be wrong—I just don’t believe him when he says, well, if this doesn’t work out and they don’t behave, I’ll just start up the war again.

That means he’s willing to tie down huge numbers of U.S. forces halfway around the world on a maybe while negotiators negotiate. At some point, ships have to come home. Soldiers and sailors need to be cycled through so they can do the things they need to do. They can’t just sit on ships for three or four months. I just don’t buy it.