Letter from Several Retired American Military Officials in Defense of the JCPOA

Several retired American generals and admirals, in an open letter to President Donald Trump, deemed the nuclear agreement between the P5+1 and Iran beneficial for U.S. national security. The 38 signatories of this letter, published by the Russian news agency Sputnik and the VoteVets website belonging to 'Progressive Veterans of America', expressed their 'strong support' for the JCPOA, stating: 'This international agreement successfully blocked Iran's path to producing nuclear weapons and significantly strengthened the security of the U.S. and its allies.' In the letter, released on Wednesday, July 21, they noted that nearly two years have passed since the signing of the nuclear agreement and referred to the commitments made by the signatories of the JCPOA: 'Iran has dismantled two-thirds of its centrifuges, delivered 98% of its enriched uranium stockpile, and injected concrete into the core of its heavy water reactor.' According to the signatories, the U.S. also took corresponding actions regarding nuclear sanctions and refrained from imposing specific new sanctions. However, they described that the U.S. Congress is currently pursuing legislation that politicizes rather than aids the national interests of the country. Previously, the U.S. Senate had overwhelmingly passed a bill that includes sanctions against Iran, with an amendment targeting Russian companies and citizens. The vote on the bill in the House of Representatives faced obstacles. In the letter from the 38 retired generals and admirals, it was emphasized that the signatories are aware of Iran's missile activities, human rights violations, and support for terrorism, which are considered threats to the U.S. and its allies in the region. Nevertheless, these 38 retired generals and admirals stated that unilateral military actions will not eliminate this threat and will not lead to regime change in Iran from outside. The letter stressed the necessity of establishing official diplomatic contacts between the U.S. government and Iran, stating that diplomatic channels are essential not only to ensure the implementation of the JCPOA but also to resolve national security crises. The signatories also wrote: 'We must have the capability for rapid and direct response to reduce tensions (such as the detention of American sailors by Iranians in the Persian Gulf) and continue our military activities to alleviate tensions between the two sides, which is beneficial for the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq.' They stated that without diplomatic contacts, small conflicts could easily spiral out of control. These retired U.S. military commanders wrote: 'Diplomacy is a vital tool for risk reduction and can prevent military confrontation that endangers the lives of our soldiers, which would not serve U.S. national security.' James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, referred to the Islamic Republic of Iran as 'the biggest factor of instability in the Middle East' in a speech on Monday, July 19, while also stating that a strategy should not be adopted that unites the Iranian people with their 'detested government.' Previously, on May 27 of this year, Mattis had also stated that 'the fingerprints of Iran and the Revolutionary Guard can be seen wherever there is chaos and violence, from Lebanon to Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, or attempts to destabilize the government of Bahrain.' Officials from Donald Trump's administration have repeatedly described the Islamic Republic as 'a threat to peace and stability in the Middle East.' In this context, Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, also stated on Wednesday, June 14, that U.S. policy supports elements within Iran that would lead to a peaceful change of this government. These statements have drawn criticism and negative reactions from Iranian officials, who have previously denied supporting terrorism and attempting to destabilize the Middle East. Meanwhile, several Middle Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia, criticize Tehran for its 'interference' in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The signatories of the letter to Mr. Trump pointed out that the JCPOA was not signed between the U.S. and Iran but is a multilateral agreement resulting from years of complex diplomatic negotiations, adding: 'This is a strategic and long-term agreement focused on one goal: to prevent Iran's nuclear program.' They called for continued U.S. cooperation with international partners for the success of the JCPOA using economic leverage and negotiations to change Iran's destabilizing behaviors. These senior retired American military officials also called for avoiding an aggressive policy that they say could lead to war. They emphasized that 'the lives of our men and women in the military cannot be put at risk before any diplomatic options are exhausted and added that diplomacy should not be sacrificed for sharp political disputes.' The letter stressed the necessity of opening a communication channel with the Iranian government, stating that this action incurs no cost, demonstrates U.S. leadership in the world, and strengthens the country's security in the context of regional and global instability.