Sir Kim Darroch, the former UK ambassador to the United States, described Donald Trump's decision to abandon the Iran nuclear deal as an act of 'diplomatic vandalism' driven by personal animosity towards Barack Obama, according to a newly leaked memo reported by The Mail on Sunday.
The memo, written after then-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson appealed to the US in 2018 to remain in the accord, suggested that President Trump was scrapping the Obama-era pact for 'personality reasons' rather than strategic considerations. Sir Kim highlighted deep splits among US advisers and a lack of post-withdrawal planning, noting that the White House could not articulate a 'day-after' strategy.
The leak comes amid an ongoing criminal investigation into the initial disclosure of Sir Kim's diplomatic cables, which had already led to his resignation. The Metropolitan Police warned that further publication of leaked material could breach the Official Secrets Act, prompting a defence of press freedom from editors and MPs.
The Mail on Sunday argued that the memo's release served the public interest by shedding light on UK efforts to prevent the US withdrawal. In response, the Foreign Office condemned the leak as 'totally unacceptable' and called for the source to face consequences, though Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd supported the paper's decision.
Iran has since breached uranium enrichment limits set by the 2015 deal, which remains supported by the UK, France, and Germany. The memo underscores longstanding tensions between the UK and US over the nuclear deal, with Sir Kim previously characterising the Trump administration as 'clumsy and inept'.
