President Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal because he could not affirm that Tehran was living up to the agreement, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Wednesday.

Mattis told a Senate committee that the decision was not “hasty” and the U.S. will now focus on working with allies to press Iran on ending malign activities across the Middle East such as ballistic missile development and support of terrorism.

Recommended Stories

Obama’s Iran deal was written on water and Trump just drowned it

Supreme leader of Iran promises revenge over killing of nuclear scientist

Trump to grant waivers for civil nuclear cooperation with Iran