Dozens of Nuclear Experts Call for the U.S. to Remain in the Nuclear Agreement with Iran

More than 80 nuclear and non-proliferation experts have issued a statement urging the government of Donald Trump, the President of the United States, not to abandon the agreement between Iran and six world powers aimed at limiting Tehran's nuclear activities and lifting related sanctions. The statement was published on September 13 on the website of the Arms Control Association and has been signed by several academic figures and former officials of the U.S. State Department. According to these individuals, the agreement reached two years ago between Iran, the U.S. government under President Barack Obama, China, France, Britain, Russia, and Germany has 'significantly reduced the risks posed by Iran's nuclear program.' The experts added that this agreement has also enabled 'unprecedented oversight mechanisms and transparent measures that will expose any potential future attempts by Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, even if these efforts are conducted secretly.' The experts stated that they 'strongly support various efforts for monitoring and implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.' They also warned that abandoning the nuclear agreement without sufficient evidence that Iran is not adhering to it increases the risk that Tehran will return to some of its nuclear activities. Nikki Haley, the U.S. representative to the United Nations, recently raised issues during a speech at the Washington Enterprise Institute that some experts believe could be a roadmap for the Trump administration to gradually distance itself from the agreement. Mr. Trump has been a strong critic of the nuclear agreement during his presidential campaign, even stating that he would cancel it if elected. Although the agreement remains in place since his victory and the U.S. government continues to affirm it, Washington has emphasized that Iran is not adhering to the 'spirit' of the agreement. A day before the publication of the nuclear experts' statement, Heather Nauert, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, reminded that the 'review' of the agreement is still ongoing, adding that Tehran is not adhering to the spirit of the agreement, as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) calls for establishing peace and political and regional stability, which Iran has not complied with. On the other hand, Tehran has accused Washington of violating the 'spirit' of the nuclear agreement and creating obstacles to the full implementation of the JCPOA. Iranian officials have also stated that the nuclear agreement and the JCPOA were not formed solely between Iran and the United States, and the U.S. cannot unilaterally review, discuss, or negotiate it. Reuters reported on September 10, citing several current and former U.S. officials, that the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and the National Security Advisor to the U.S. President have proposed stricter actions aimed at countering Iranian-backed militias and the country’s missile program. On the other hand, one U.S. official told Reuters that nearly all strategies presented to the U.S. President aim to keep the country in the nuclear agreement while increasing pressures on other issues.