Decision to put the JCPOA at Risk is a Serious Mistake

Barack Obama

There are few issues more important to the security of the United States than the potential spread of nuclear weapons, or the potential for even more destructive war in the Middle East. That’s why the United States negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the first place.

The reality is clear. The JCPOA is working – that is a view shared by our European allies, independent experts, and the current U.S. Secretary of Defense. The JCPOA is in America’s interest – it has significantly rolled back Iran’s nuclear program. And the JCPOA is a model for what diplomacy can accomplish – its inspections and verification regime is precisely what the United States should be working to put in place with North Korea. Indeed, at a time when we are all rooting for diplomacy with North Korea to succeed, walking away from the JCPOA risks losing a deal that accomplishes – with Iran – the very outcome that we are pursuing with the North Koreans.

That is why today’s announcement is so misguided. Walking away from the JCPOA turns our back on America’s closest allies, and an agreement that our country’s leading diplomats, scientists, and intelligence professionals negotiated. In a democracy, there will always be changes in policies and priorities from one Administration to the next. But the consistent flouting of agreements that our country is a party to risks eroding America’s credibility, and puts us at odds with the world’s major powers.

Debates in our country should be informed by facts, especially debates that have proven to be divisive. So it’s important to review several facts about the JCPOA.

First, the JCPOA was not just an agreement between my Administration and the Iranian government. After years of building an international coalition that could impose crippling sanctions on Iran, we reached the JCPOA together with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the European Union, Russia, China, and Iran. It is a multilateral arms control deal, unanimously endorsed by a United Nations Security Council Resolution.

Second, the JCPOA has worked in rolling back Iran’s nuclear program. For decades, Iran had steadily advanced its nuclear program, approaching the point where they could rapidly produce enough fissile material to build a bomb. The JCPOA put a lid on that breakout capacity. Since the JCPOA was implemented, Iran has destroyed the core of a reactor that could have produced weapons-grade plutonium; removed two-thirds of its centrifuges (over 13,000) and placed them under international monitoring; and eliminated 97 percent of its stockpile of enriched uranium – the raw materials necessary for a bomb. So by any measure, the JCPOA has imposed strict limitations on Iran’s nuclear program and achieved real results.

Third, the JCPOA does not rely on trust – it is rooted in the most far-reaching inspections and verification regime ever negotiated in an arms control deal. Iran’s nuclear facilities are strictly monitored. International monitors also have access to Iran’s entire nuclear supply chain, so that we can catch them if they cheat. Without the JCPOA, this monitoring and inspections regime would go away.

Fourth, Iran is complying with the JCPOA. That was not simply the view of my Administration. The United States intelligence community has continued to find that Iran is meeting its responsibilities under the deal, and has reported as much to Congress. So have our closest allies, and the international agency responsible for verifying Iranian compliance – the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Fifth, the JCPOA does not expire. The prohibition on Iran ever obtaining a nuclear weapon is permanent. Some of the most important and intrusive inspections codified by the JCPOA are permanent. Even as some of the provisions in the JCPOA do become less strict with time, this won’t happen until ten, fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five years into the deal, so there is little reason to put those restrictions at risk today.

Finally, the JCPOA was never intended to solve all of our problems with Iran. We were clear-eyed that Iran engages in destabilizing behavior – including support for terrorism, and threats toward Israel and its neighbors. But that’s precisely why it was so important that we prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Every aspect of Iranian behavior that is troubling is far more dangerous if their nuclear program is unconstrained. Our ability to confront Iran’s destabilizing behavior – and to sustain a unity of purpose with our allies – is strengthened with the JCPOA, and weakened without it.

Because of these facts, I believe that the decision to put the JCPOA at risk without any Iranian violation of the deal is a serious mistake. Without the JCPOA, the United States could eventually be left with a losing choice between a nuclear-armed Iran or another war in the Middle East. We all know the dangers of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. It could embolden an already dangerous regime; threaten our friends with destruction; pose unacceptable dangers to America’s own security; and trigger an arms race in the world’s most dangerous region. If the constraints on Iran’s nuclear program under the JCPOA are lost, we could be hastening the day when we are faced with the choice between living with that threat, or going to war to prevent it.

In a dangerous world, America must be able to rely in part on strong, principled diplomacy to secure our country. We have been safer in the years since we achieved the JCPOA, thanks in part to the work of our diplomats, many members of Congress, and our allies. Going forward, I hope that Americans continue to speak out in support of the kind of strong, principled, fact-based, and unifying leadership that can best secure our country and uphold our responsibilities around the globe.



Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States from January 20, 2009 to January 20, 2017.

Source: Read Obama’s Reaction to Donald Trump Pulling Out of the Iranian Nuclear Deal

The pics says it all....Trump is like Obama say anything and die

Trump is a

Trump will always choose his own infamous path regardless of anyone's view

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Obama is a bungler. Let him just shut up. He had his chance and he bungled it so he should just shut up and take a back seat while Trump fixes things

Dont do it!

The United States of Terrorism.

Nothing more Than a Bunch of War Mongering Idiots!

Trump is a no nonsense man..

Benjom:
Trump will always choose his own infamous path regardless of anyone's view

That's why I am always proud of him

Is this clown called Obama still talking? Can he just please shut the hell up? All he know is how to talk, talk, talk, talk and no action. Whenever he took action, it was was dumb as a rock. Obama the clown!!

Naza25:
Obama is a bungler. Let him just shut up. He had his chance and he bungled it so he should just shut up and take a back seat while Trump fixes things

...Sir, what exactly is Trump fixing....

this failure called obama should shut the f**k up

Trump is a hundred times smarter than Obama.

Okay

Na Trump e dey write all these grammar for?

Obama is abit too diplomatic. It doesn't work for everybody. Let trump review wat he wants to

Finally, the JCPOA was never intended to solve all of our problems with Iran. We were clear-eyed that Iran engages in destabilizing behavior – including support for terrorism, and threats toward Israel and its neighbors. But that’s precisely why it was so important that we prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Every aspect of Iranian behavior that is troubling is far more dangerous if their nuclear program is unconstrained. Our ability to confront Iran’s destabilizing behavior – and to sustain a unity of purpose with our allies – is strengthened with the JCPOA, and weakened without it.


So Obama knew all these and still think diplomacy will work with Iran.

Trump is a boss man, Obama is a chicken

obama was a spinless leader and the deal was bad and iran lied about their nuclear activities,some people dont know why EU doesnt want to scrap the deal..its just for money.the EU have some business interest in iran.obama gave iran 1.7billion dollars in cash after the deal and got nothing in return..the deal didnt address the main issue that iran will stop testing and upgrading their ballistic missiles and ballistic missiles are used for 1thing..to deliver nuclear war head

am with Trump....what about u?

D

Mumu Obama, Trump no send u so just keep your dirty mouth shut

Donald trump, best president america ever have, abeg make america borrow nigeria trump for 2 months and deal with all this our polithiefciaans

yvesboss:


That's why I am always proud of him

So you are proud of a racist prick who actually hates your kind? You are a very interesting human being

tolexy007:
am with Trump....what about u?

100% with Trump on this one, Iran must not be allowed to get nuclear weapons

Here is a link to info about the 1953 coup the CIA pulled off on Iran at the request of BP oil company. If you feel Iran has no right to self defense after it's government was overthrown for an oil company and a dictator installed then you are confused. Bolton really wants war. Isreal wants war. Isreal shot down two Iranian jets in Syria.
But as expected the braindead Nigerians who knows nothing will jubilate because a Muslim country is involved. Their hatred, stupidity, bigotry, hypocrisy is of the highest order

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/19/cia-admits-role-1953-iranian-coup