Obama slams Trump’s Iran war for driving up cost of ‘just about everything’

Former US President Barack Obama has criticised Trump’s war on Iran, saying it is “the reason why the price of just about everything is up”.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Ohio ahead of the US midterm elections, Obama said: “Iran didn’t have nuclear weapons because I had put a deal in place that everybody acknowledged kept them from getting nukes. And I didn’t have to fire a missile to do it. I just had to engage in diplomacy.”

“Iran now has veto power over the Strait of Hormuz, where oil goes through to the world market,” the former president said.

“This is the reason why the price of oil is up. This is the reason why the price of diesel is up. This is the reason why the price of just about everything is up.”

Under the 2015 Obama deal with Iran, officially called the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to restrict the enrichment of uranium and subject itself to inspections in exchange for the relaxation of sanctions. Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, during his first term.

ℹ️ Content Notice: This text is an English translation and factual adaptation of news events, edited for clarity, neutrality and objective reporting.
Source of information: Global News Agencies including REUTERS / TASS / AFP / ANADOLU / INT.RU / Al Jazeera / CNN