(Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

UH OH: Nikki Haley clashing with Rex Tillerson over Iran deal

It looks like Nikki Haley and Rex Tillerson are fighting about the Iran deal. Haley is on the side of kicking the Iran deal to the curb while Tillerson is said to be in “open war” with Trump to keep him renewing the Iran deal:

FREE BEACON – In a sign of the ongoing internal dissent over ending the landmark nuclear agreement with Iran, multiple sources told the Washington Free Beacon that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley have been at odds over the deal, with Trump’s U.N. ambassador privately expressing dismay with Tillerson over his continued efforts to preserve the nuclear agreement.

The division is one of several that Tillerson has sparked within the administration, particularly in the West Wing, where the secretary of state has been described as in “open war” with Trump on a series of major foreign policy issues, including Iran and the Israel-Palestinian impasse.

“The tension between Rex and Nikki is the worst kept secret in the State Department,” according to one veteran foreign policy hand who has been in close contact with the State Department on the issue.

Haley “thinks that [Tillerson is] trying to undermine the president and preserve Obama’s Iran legacy, which is true,” explained the source, who would only discuss the sensitive matter on background. “He thinks she’s running her own foreign policy and auditioning for his job, which is also true.”

These tensions have “spilled into the open” several times “over the last few weeks,” but were quickly dispelled in order to promote a public face of unity within the Trump administration, according to the source and others who spoke to the Free Beacon.

“It will keep happening as long as the secretary keeps working to force Trump to certify while the ambassador keeps working to promote what Trump says he wants,” the source said.

These tensions over the Iran deal have also been making waves on Capitol Hill, where opponents of the deal view Haley as one of their chief allies.

“Haley clearly understands that the status quo is unsustainable,” said one senior congressional official involved in the matter. “She recognizes that the nuclear deal has been a complete disaster for the United States and our allies.”

“Meanwhile, Tillerson continues to pursue his own agenda at State with little regard for the president’s priorities,” the official said. “It’s good to see Haley stand firm as the voice of reason, and urge Tillerson and other Iran sympathizers to end their rogue behavior.”

It’s far past time for Tillerson to go. The fact that Trump passed over John Bolton for Tillerson just speaks volumes about Trump’s judgement. At this point I’d be totally happy with Nikki Haley as Secretary of State even though I know she turned it down before. She seems like the most conservative and honorable person in the administration at this point and she clearly wants what’s best for America.

(Top Photo Credit: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)


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