Maloney Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from Iran Nuclear Deal
WASHINGTON – Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) released the following statement after President Trump elected not to waive sanctions on Iran, effectively terminating the United States’ participation in the Iran Nuclear Agreement, which has prevented Iran from developing nuclear weapons since 2015.
“Iran is a real danger to the United States and to the region and we must never let them get their hands on nuclear weapons. My only priority when looking at this deal is whether or not it keeps America and our allies safe from a nuclear-armed Iran. All the evidence we have indicates that it has. And the proof’s in the pudding – three years ago they were mere months away from having a nuclear weapon and today they have no nuclear weapons capacity.
“Sure, the deal’s not perfect – I’ve said that since it was brokered – but you don’t have to end the deal to strengthen it. If we scrap the deal, abandon our NATO allies, and the Iranians start racing towards a nuclear weapon, we could easily find ourselves in another ground war in the Middle East. I’d feel better if I knew what the president’s plan was for that scenario. I don’t think he’s thought about it.”
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Agreement, provided targeted sanctions relief on Iran in exchange for the country’s agreement to abandon its nuclear program and submit to frequent inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The president is required to “recertify” the deal every 90 days. The president must also choose to continue waiving sanctions on Iran, or they will be automatically reimposed. In November 2017, the last time the deal was up for recertification, President Trump elected not to recertify the agreement, but continued to waive sanctions.
