Trump admin slaps new restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities

The Trump administration on Friday imposed new limits on Iran's nuclear activities but stopped short of scrapping several waivers that allow Tehran to receive international assistance for the conversion of atomic sites for civilian uses. The move avoided a full-blown collision with European allies over the 2015 nuclear deal that President Donald Trump rejected last year. Iran has continued to abide by the multinational agreement, known as the JCPOA, which imposed limits on its nuclear program in return for a relaxation of U.S. and international sanctions. The decision also followed an internal argument in the administration, as previously reported by NBC News, that pitted National Security Adviser John Bolton and others at the White House against State Department officials, who favored keeping all the waivers in place. Hardliners in Congress, including Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, had pressed the administration to cancel all waivers for Iran's nuclear activities. The State Department said the U.S. would extend waivers that permit Iran to operate three nuclear sites — at Fordow, Arak and Bushehr — for research and peaceful purposes without facing sanctions. The new waivers will only run for 90 days, instead of 180 days.