What you need to know
- The 2015 deal (the JCPOA) was premised on false Iranian declarations about the prior extent of their weapons-related research and allowed Iran to maintain all of its nuclear infrastructure.
- In the 2015 deal, Iran agreed to inspections but was able to declare certain sites off-limits, thus negating inspectors’ ability to ensure compliance.
- While the 2015 deal set restrictions on what Iran could do with its nuclear infrastructure, those restrictions expire less than 15 years from the date of the agreement.
- The 2015 deal gutted prior UN sanctions on the Iranian regime’s pursuit of more accurate and longer-range ballistic missiles, that is, the technology for ensuring that a nuclear payload could reach its intended target.
- The 2015 deal did nothing to address Iran’s funding of terrorism, including its funding of Hamas and Hezbollah. President Obama’s Secretary of State, John Kerry, even admitted that money Iran received from sanctions relief under the agreement would go toward funding terrorism.
- The 2015 deal did nothing to address the current hostages Iran has and Iran’s continued practice of taking American citizens, and citizens of our allies, hostage.
We need a new, better deal
The only way to reengage with Iran must be with a new, better deal. To be acceptable, a new Iran deal must address the most glaring defects in the JCPOA by:
- Establishing an effective inspections/enforcement mechanism and not permitting Iran to declare sites off limits to inspectors;
- Removing “sunset clauses” and requiring permanent dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure;
- Restricting Iran’s illegal ballistic missile program;
- Requiring that Iran cease funding of terrorism and terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah and end its support for the Houthi insurgency in Yemen;
- Providing for the release of Americans being held hostage by the regime;
- Submitting any deal with Iran to the US Senate for ratification as a treaty.
Why Jewish Republicans reject the Biden plan to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal
- The 2015 Iran deal reflected the Obama administration’s misguided approach to the nuclear challenge from Tehran.
- Because of the deal’s defects and Iran’s non-compliance, President Trump was right to pull the US out of the deal and implement a “maximum pressure” strategy.
- President Biden must learn from the Obama deal’s failures and is wrong to give key administration posts to the same people who brought us that deal
- An acceptable deal with Iran must address all aspects of the Iranian threat, not just a narrow set of “nuclear” issues.
- In addition, achieving an acceptable deal with Iran will not be possible without extensive consultation with Israel and other traditional US allies in the region as well as with Congress.