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I want a "longer and stronger" agreement with Iran, but the path to that agreement is through the Iran nuclear deal (the JCPOA).
1/ A short THREAD on why getting back into the JCPOA, as soon as possible, is the necessary predicate to gain other concessions from Iran.
1/ A short THREAD on why getting back into the JCPOA, as soon as possible, is the necessary predicate to gain other concessions from Iran.
2/ The MOST important thing is to make sure Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon. This takes priority.
Yes, we want Iran to end support for proxies and their missile program. But all their other malevolent activity is much worse if they have a nuclear bomb.
http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20200421-iran-s-nuclear-breakout-time-reduced-to-34-months
Yes, we want Iran to end support for proxies and their missile program. But all their other malevolent activity is much worse if they have a nuclear bomb.
http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20200421-iran-s-nuclear-breakout-time-reduced-to-34-months
3/ We had 4 years to try the approach of the JCPOA opponents. Trump leveled crippling sanctions on Iran to get them to negotiate on everything.
It was a disaster. Iran refused to talk, they restarted their nuclear program, and began firing at U.S. troops. https://www.iiss.org/blogs/survival-blog/2018/05/pompeos-12-demands
It was a disaster. Iran refused to talk, they restarted their nuclear program, and began firing at U.S. troops. https://www.iiss.org/blogs/survival-blog/2018/05/pompeos-12-demands
4/ Meanwhile, the alliance Obama had built (U.S/Europe/Russia/China vs. Iran) collapsed. Europe, China, and Russia helped Iran work around Trump's sanctions, and would not cooperate with us on constraining Iran's other destabilizing efforts. https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-ramps-up-trade-system-with-iran-despite-u-s-threats-11585661594
5/ It is foolhardy to believe that Iran is now willing to sit down and negotiate a comprehensive agreement. And even if they were, they would want concessions from us, like a change to our defense relationship with Saudi Arabia/UAE.
6/ The best path to getting Iran to the table on non-nuclear issues is to reenter the JCPOA and re-cement the P5+1 alliance structure.
This means "compliance for compliance". Iran gets back into accord with the JCPOA and America releases the sanctions. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/07/iran-and-us-seek-new-chapter-in-vienna-nuclear-talks.html
This means "compliance for compliance". Iran gets back into accord with the JCPOA and America releases the sanctions. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/07/iran-and-us-seek-new-chapter-in-vienna-nuclear-talks.html
7/ Pres Biden shouldn't expect that a single opponent of the original agreement is going to support compliance for compliance.
Iran, the Gulf states, and congressional Republicans see these talks as a way to do what they couldn't in 2015 - kill any nuclear agreement with Iran.
Iran, the Gulf states, and congressional Republicans see these talks as a way to do what they couldn't in 2015 - kill any nuclear agreement with Iran.
8/ But the agreement was good for America, Israel, and the rest of the world. It was a sign that diplomacy can solve big problems.
And every day that the U.S. and Iran remain outside the deal, the world is less safe and diplomacy is devalued.
https://www.nti.org/about/iran-deal-working/
And every day that the U.S. and Iran remain outside the deal, the world is less safe and diplomacy is devalued.
https://www.nti.org/about/iran-deal-working/
