On Politics A.M.: Iran Ends Nuclear Restrictions

2020年1月6日星期一

January 6, 2020

Good Monday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today.

Iran declared on Sunday that it would end commitments it made to limit its nuclear fuel production as part of the 2015 agreement from which President Trump withdrew in 2018, saying it was flawed in part because the major restrictions on Iran ended after 15 years. But now, responding to a U.S. drone strike that killed a top general, Iran says those restrictions are over — a decade ahead of schedule.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Iran that the United States could attack the country within its borders and its leaders if they take hostile actions against American interests in the aftermath of the drone strike.

Dozens of Iranians and Iranian-Americans were detained and questioned for hours at Washington State’s border with Canada over the weekend as the Department of Homeland Security ramped up security at border ports after threats from Iran to retaliate.
The American-led coalition in Iraq and Syria halted its yearslong campaign against the Islamic State on Sunday. American forces in those countries will now focus on protecting themselves.
Mr. Trump’s decision to kill Iran’s top security commander has upended Congress’s priorities, thrusting matters of war and peace into the spotlight as an impeachment trial looms.

The president’s critics have long expressed worries over how he would handle a genuine international crisis, warning about his tendency to act impulsively. Now a moment has arrived that will test whether those critics are right or whether they misjudged him.
Defenders of history are taking aim at the president’s warning to target cultural sites in Iran. Military attacks against cultural sites are against international law and would represent a huge turnabout by the United States.
With foreign policy emerging as a top priority in the Democratic primary, Pete Buttigieg, a former naval intelligence officer, is leaning harder on his veteran status.

Democrats are spending big ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire voting. But they seem to be channeling voters so intent on beating Mr. Trump that they don’t want Democrats going after other Democrats.

Today’s On Politics briefing was compiled by Isabella Grullón Paz in New York.

Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com.