52 U.S. Security Experts Call for Continued Nuclear Deal with Iran

Fifty-two U.S. security experts, including retired officers, former congressional representatives, and former diplomats, have urged President Donald Trump not to withdraw from the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) in a letter. The Trump administration must decide by January 12 whether to extend the suspension of sanctions under the nuclear agreement with Iran, a renewal that occurs every 120 days. This decision comes at a time when the Islamic Republic is dealing with protests over poor economic conditions and corruption in Iran. The signatories of the letter, organized by the 'National Coalition to Prevent a Nuclear Iran,' stated on Monday, January 8: 'We support the rights of Iranian citizens to freedom of expression and peaceful protest and condemn the use of force against peaceful demonstrations.' They added, 'In response to developments in Iran, both now and in the future, the United States must be careful not to take steps that would undermine the JCPOA.' Among the signatories are notable figures such as Richard Lugar, former Republican Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Paul O'Neill, Secretary of the Treasury under George W. Bush; Michael Hayden, former Director of the National Security Agency and CIA; and Admiral Eric Olson, former commander of the Special Operations Forces. On October 30, over 90 U.S. nuclear science experts published a letter defending the nuclear agreement with Iran, urging the U.S. Congress to support the continuation of the JCPOA and prevent Trump's administration from withdrawing from it. This letter was published after President Trump refrained from certifying Iran's compliance with the JCPOA in October and referred the matter to Congress for a decision on reinstating sanctions. However, Congress did not respond to Trump's request by the deadline. The experts stated in their letter that they believe the nuclear agreement has effectively blocked the Islamic Republic's path to a nuclear bomb and that the U.S. Congress bears a 'grave responsibility' in maintaining this agreement. Trump has been a major critic of the JCPOA over the past year, calling it 'the worst deal.' He has emphasized that if he cannot work with Congress and U.S. allies to amend the JCPOA, he will withdraw from it. During the recent protests in Iran, Trump again questioned the JCPOA, asserting that the money Iran received from this agreement has been spent on costly military adventures in the Middle East rather than for the benefit of the Iranian people. As the U.S. government approaches its decision on the suspension of sanctions against Iran, U.S. senators and Trump administration officials have recently attempted to agree on a plan that would maintain the nuclear agreement while intensifying restrictions on Tehran. While the continuation of the JCPOA enjoys broad support from European countries, some media outlets and individuals aligned with President Trump are calling for Washington to exit the agreement. In this context, the website 'National Review' on Monday published an article by Fred Fleitz urging the Trump administration to end the JCPOA, arguing that it would jeopardize 'global security' and strengthen a 'theocratic regime.' This article supports Trump's position that the JCPOA and the lifting of sanctions have enabled the Islamic Republic to spend billions of dollars on costly military activities instead of improving the economy for Iranian citizens. The nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers, reached in July 2015, requires Iran to halt many of its nuclear activities, including 20% enrichment, in exchange for the lifting or suspension of international sanctions against Tehran. The potential outlook for the U.S. exit from the JCPOA became so pronounced that both Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization, and Abbas Araqchi, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, warned the 'international community' and the 'International Atomic Energy Agency' about this. According to reports from Reuters, Radio Farda, and the 'National Review'; K.R./M.A.