Democratic Senators Demand Trump Administration Provide Information on Iran's Violation of the JCPOA

Seven Democratic senators from the U.S. Senate have called on Donald Trump's administration to provide information to U.S. lawmakers if they possess evidence of Iran's non-compliance with the nuclear agreement. According to Reuters, in a letter sent on Wednesday, September 20, to Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State, James Mattis, Secretary of Defense, and other officials in Trump's administration, the senators stated that the White House has not yet provided such information to Congress, despite a congressional mandate requiring it. Donald Trump has consistently opposed the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, which was signed during Barack Obama's presidency. In his first speech at the United Nations, Trump described the agreement as 'one-sided' and 'a source of shame' for the U.S., emphasizing that 'the United States will never remain in a one-sided deal that offers no benefit to this country.' He has repeatedly claimed that Iran is not adhering to the spirit of the nuclear agreement and continues its 'destabilizing actions.' Meanwhile, the White House has until mid-October to confirm whether Iran has complied with the nuclear agreement. If the U.S. President does not affirm this, Congress must decide whether to suspend sanctions against Iran again. The senators' letter states: 'The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 requires the President to provide Congress with any information regarding potential Iranian violations of the nuclear agreement within ten days.' The letter also requests that if the Trump administration believes that continuing the suspension of sanctions against Iran is detrimental to U.S. national security and if they have information indicating Iran's non-compliance with the nuclear agreement, they should prepare a written report and testify in the Senate. The letter was signed by Senators Sherrod Brown, Maria Cantwell, Ben Cardin, Richard Durbin, Patrick Leahy, Jack Reed, and Mark Warner. Donald Trump has confirmed Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement twice so far.