The Iran nuclear agreement is a done deal – and likely to stay that way, House Speaker Paul Ryan says.
In pretaped remarks for airing on NBC's Sunday show "Meet The Press, posted by CNN, the Wisconsin Republican conceded: "A lot of that toothpaste is already out of the tube."
"I never supported the deal in the first place," Ryan asserted, echoing widespread GOP disdain for the Obama administration deal. "I thought it was a huge mistake, but the multilateral sanctions are done."
"I don't think you're going to go back and reconstitute the multilateral sanctions that were put in place," he added.
President Donald Trump sharply criticized the Iran deal during the campaign, but hasn't moved yet to pull the United States out of the agreement.
He has, however, signaled a tough approach with Tehran, declaring on Thursday his administration put Iran "on notice" for testing a ballistic missile.
Sanctions were then imposed Friday.
Ryan said he supported the Trump administration's approach to Iran – and that Congress would support further sanctions, saying America needs to "rachet up" sanctions where it can.
"I think we should expend our effort where it can pay off the most," Ryan said. "What they're doing now makes a lot of sense."
He also reiterated condemnation of Iran as "a belligerent force in the Middle East."
"They write on the side of their ballistic missiles in Hebrew, Farsi and English, 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to America.' This is not a peaceful nation," Ryan said.
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