Sanctions against European companies are “possible” if they continue to do business with Iran, national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday.
In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Bolton said “the issue here is what the Europeans are going to do” now that President Donald Trump has withdrawn from the multinational pact on Iran’s nuclear proliferation.
“I think at the moment there is some feeling in Europe that they are surprised we got out of it and the reimposition of strict sanctions,” Bolton conceded, though President Donald Trump’s position was “very clear” when he spoke with France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“It is possible” the United States would impose sanctions on European companies if they continue their business dealings with Iran, Bolton declared.
“But I think the Europeans will see that it is in their interest ultimately to come along with us, he said.
In a separate interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” Bolton said ahead of the upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, that the United States could trade and invest in the country should there be an agreement on their denuclearization. "I think we’re prepared to open to trade and investment with North Korea as soon as we can,” he said.
Bolton also credited the release of three American detainees in North Korea and the upcoming meeting to Trump’s maximum pressure campaign.”
"North Korea has come to a point that they never reached under any prior president,” he said. “And I think what they did here was concede that holding these three Americans as pawns in a propaganda game wasn't getting them anywhere. They came out without precondition. It is really because of the different policies that North Korea faces from the United States that I think they made the decision. ...
“There have been stringent economic sanctions ever since the Korean war. What we have done internationally is ratchet up the pressure. They never reached the level particularly of Chinese cooperation that Kim Jong Un has faced,” he added.
He dismissed suggestions the upcoming meeting between the two leaders has been rushed.
“People have said you can't prepare in such a short time for such a momentous meeting. I had the opposite reaction.,” he said. “There is utility in bringing these leaders together. … Dragging this out gives North Koreans more time to continue to make progress on ballistic missile and nuclear programs. Let's get the leaders together.”
And on the furor over a White House staffer’s dismissive insult to brain-cancer stricken Sen. John McCain, Bolton gave effusive tribute to the Arizona Republican — but refused to say if the White House should apologize.
“John McCain came to my defense in 2005 when my nomination to the U.N. Ambassador was under criticism,” he said. “ He did it because he thought I was being treated unfairly. I will never forget it and be grateful forever. I wish John McCain and his family nothing but the best.”
"I said what I'm going to say on the subject. "
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