Singapore Summit: Trump says Iran already damaged by nuclear deal exit

The US president said Iran is 'a different country now'

US President Donald Trump answers questions about the summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un during a press conference in Singapore on Tuesday. Wong Maye-E / AP

Iran is looking less confident following the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, President Donald Trump has said.

Following his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore on Tuesday, the US president fielded questions in a meandering press conference.

In response to a question regarding the value of the light-on-detail agreement he signed with President Kim, Mr Trump segued to talking about the international nuclear deal with Iran from which the US recently withdrew.

“I have been given a tough hand,” Mr Trump said. “I was given this and the Iran deal and other problems. We are doing really well. The Iran deal, I have to be honest, I did it because nuclear is always number one to me. Nuclear is number one.”

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He then claimed that his failure to honour the nuclear agreement had modified Tehran’s foreign policy.

“On the Iran deal, I think Iran is a different country now,” he said. “I don’t think they are looking as much to the Mediterranean and so much at Syria like they were with total confidence. I don’t think they are so confident right now.

“I hope with that being said, I hope at the appropriate time after the sanctions kick in and they are brutal on what we put on Iran. I hope they come back and negotiate a real deal. Right now it is too soon for that.”