The Trump administration will once again issue sanctions waivers to allow Russia, China and Europe to continue nuclear nonproliferation work in Iran, Reuters reported.

The periodic waivers grant exemptions from US sanctions against Iran, and allow foreign companies to collaborate on the civilian nuclear programme with Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation.

These exemptions give permission to non-US companies to work at two nuclear facilities in Iran. The Russian company Rosatom has worked at the fuel enrichment plant in Fordow and China National Nuclear Corporation has worked at the heavy water research reactor in Arak.

The renewal of waivers comes amid much pressure from foreign policy hawks in Washington who have been calling on the US president to discontinue these exemptions.

Republican Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Ted Cruz of Texas, criticised President Trump for the decision and said the waivers would allow Iran to build up its nuclear programme.

Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Show all 17 1 /17 Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iran claims that in this picture released by Iran state TV, their surface-to-air missile is seen as it shoots down a US surveillance drone EPA Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures This photo shows US RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned surveillance drone. A drone of this model was shot down by Iran on Thursday 21 June AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures An oil tanker is on fire after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13. The US has blamed Iran for the attack Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iran claims that in this picture released by Iran state TV, debris from the downed US drone is seen after it was recovered from Iranian waters AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Smoke billows from an oil tanker after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures US President Trump holds up a signed executive order to increase sanctions on Iran on 24 June AP Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iranian President Rouhani stated in a televised address that the White House is "afflicted by mental retardation" following the increase in sanctions on 25 June EPA Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures An Iranian navy boat tackles the fire on the Norwegian owned Front Altair oil tanker after it was hit in a suspected attack AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iran claims that in this picture released by Iran state TV, debris from the downed US drone is seen after it was recovered from Iranian waters AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Smoke billows from an oil tanker after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures A screenshot from a video released by the US Department of Defense that the US claims to show Iranian removing an unexploded limpet mine form the hull of the Japan-owned ship that was attacked in the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures An item reportedly found on the Japan-owned oil tanker that was attacked on June 13 in the Gulf of Oman AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures A handout photograph from the US Department of Defense shows a composite material that the US claim was left behind on the hull of the Japan-owned oil tanker following the removal of an unexploded limpet mine Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures A view from the cabin of an Iranian navy boat as it tackles the fire on the Norwegian owned Front Altair oil tanker after it was hit in a suspected attack EPA Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Release by US government A picture released by U.S. Central Command shows damage to the hull of the oil tanker Kokuka Courageous. The picture suggests that the ship is 'likely' to have been hit by a mine as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo moves to blame Iran for the suspected attack Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Smoke billows from an oil tanker after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Release by US government A picture released by U.S. Central Command shows damage to the hull of the oil tanker Kokuka Courageous. The pictures suggests that the ship is 'likely' to have been hit by a mine as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo moves to blame Iran for the suspected attack EPA

"This is disappointing and another lost opportunity to tear up the catastrophic Obama-Iran nuclear deal once and for all," the two senators said in a joint statement. “President Trump should immediately order his administration to stop issuing civil nuclear waivers.”

Experts say there are two reasons for Mr Trump’s decision. “The first is that continuing these waivers is so obviously in the national security interest of the United States that even this administration is not blind to their benefits,” said Joseph Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund, a nuclear weapons policy organisation in Washington.

“The second is that Trump wants to keep the sliver of a possibility of at least meeting with the Iranians before he is engulfed with impeachment and a tough re-election fight,” he told The Independent.

Mr Cirincione believes that North Korea and Iran are the only two places in the world where Mr Trump might secure some sort of diplomatic victory before the end of his term. “Both are long shots, but continuing the waivers gives him the possibility of a come-from-behind win,” he added.

Last year Mr Trump pulled the United States out of the 2015 landmark nuclear deal with Iran, despite strong opposition from other signatories to the international agreement including US allies in Europe.

The US administration then gradually re-imposed sanctions on Iran that target all of the country’s major industries.

After one year of full compliance with the deal, Iran retaliated against the US withdrawal and started taking incremental steps to move away from its commitments under the deal.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association in Washington, said the Trump administration’s decision to renew waivers is merely the US complying with earlier commitments. “I think it means they don’t have a reason to end the waivers, which would only give Iran another reason to further breach JCPOA limits,” he told The Independent. “We are looking closely to see what Iran does next week to take a ‘fourth step’ away from the JCPOA,” Mr Kimball added, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal.

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Mr Trump has long criticised his predecessor Barack Obama for making the “worst” deal with Iran and claimed that as a capable “deal-maker”, he would be able to make a much stronger agreement.