Carper Urges Trump to Recertify Iran Nuclear Deal

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement to strongly urge President Trump to recertify the nuclear deal with Iran, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“The Iran nuclear deal has so far been successful in its goal to eliminate the immediate threat that Iran will create a nuclear weapon, keeping Iran at least a year away from developing a bomb. It took our government and its international partners years of difficult and delicate negotiations to reach an agreement that applied strict rules to halt Iran’s nuclear program. The final product garnered the approval and confidence of the world’s defense, intelligence and scientific communities.

“Since its implementation, the United States and other countries who are party to the deal have extensively monitored, inspected and repeatedly certified that Iran is in compliance with the deal. These inspections are intrusive and, rightly, based on mistrust. While Iran still must change much of its behavior, which threatens to provoke instability in the region, it’s made good on the promises sealed in this deal. That’s why, just a few months ago, the Trump Administration itself certified for a second time that this international agreement has successfully frozen Iran’s nuclear program. I am dismayed by recent reports suggesting President Trump will refuse to again certify that the Iran nuclear deal is in our country’s national security interest. He has threatened to do so even while Iran is in compliance with the deal. I urge the president to reconsider before making this rash and dangerous decision.

“Iran is upholding its end of the nuclear deal, demonstrating that limited engagement with Iran can advance significant U.S. national security goals rather than undermining them. President Trump and his administration should move quickly to recertify the agreement so that we can build on the progress we’ve made and avoid the alternative: A United States that is at odds with its allies, has lost credibility as an honest partner and is undermining a deal that prevents a nuclear armed Iran.”

###