***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Progressive Congress Action Fund Strongly Opposes President Trump’s Decision to Decertify the Iran Deal

October 13, 2017

Press Contact: Olivia Alperstein
olivia@progressivecongress.org

Washington, DC—On the afternoon of Friday, October 13, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that he would not recertify the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran Deal. The deal was the result of an agreement between the Obama administration and the Iranian government in 2015. In response to Trump’s decision, Progressive Congress Action Fund issued the following statement:

“Progressive Congress Action Fund is deeply opposed to the decision to not recertify the Iran Deal. The Iranians have adhered to it, which is to date the only path that has proved successful in curbing Iran’s nuclear weapons program and stabilized diplomatic tensions. JCPOA is working. Diplomacy is working. It’s time to restore a degree of confidence regarding Iran, and to continue to engage them through multilateral talks and the careful process established through long-time negotiation.  Any issues the United States has with Iran’s activities in the region must be addressed through diplomacy, and the Iran Deal keeps open critical channels for communication.

Stoking tensions with threats of decertification and the imposition of new sanctions only serve to destabilize the region and undermine the very purpose of the deal itself: to curb Iranian nuclear weapons programs and stabilize our diplomatic relationship with Iran. Refusal to recertify the Iran Deal will only strengthen hard-liners in Iran and further erode the confidence of ordinary Iranian people, who have expressed uncertainty about the West’s commitment to diplomatic negotiations in the wake of President Trump’s threats.

This is a manufactured crisis, a solution in search of a problem foreshadowing a worrisome and aggressive stance with Iran moving forward. Further erosion of diplomatic channels will leave us with very few options to deescalate tensions should other sources of conflict arise. Right now, we have a clear, demonstrated path to success with diplomatic negotiations. There is no reason to decertify the Iran Deal except to sow further conflict.

The diplomatic community at large along with outside observers have pointed to Iran’s adherence to the terms of the Iran Deal. Objectively, even the Trump administration itself has recognized Iran’s cooperation; Trump recently renewed the decision not to impose sanctions. Let us be clear. Trump’s own top advisers have urged him to recertify the Iran Deal. And, diplomats from ally nations have indicated they would continue to abide by the JCPOA even if the United States backs out.

We have a clear path to progress right now. It’s completely reckless and irresponsible to attempt to further an aggressive stance when we have had major success with deescalation of the conflict.”

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