Proposal by Two American Legislators to Amend Nuclear Agreement Provisions

Two American Republican lawmakers have proposed a plan to change the provisions of the nuclear agreement with Iran. According to AFP, Peter Roskam and Liz Cheney presented a plan titled 'Iran Freedom Policy and Sanctions Act' on Thursday, January 18, which would increase restrictions on Iran's nuclear and missile programs. This plan signifies a change in the provisions of the nuclear agreement with Iran and the inclusion of new conditions in any potential agreement with Iran. In a press release issued by Peter Roskam's office, the aim of this plan is 'to increase pressure on Iran due to human rights violations, support for terrorism, and ballistic missile programs, and to tighten the JCPOA agreement by imposing severe restrictions on Iran's nuclear program.' The statement mentions that this plan is intended to 'address the deficiencies of the nuclear agreement' so that Iran can never reach the capacity to produce nuclear weapons. Under this proposal, which has been introduced in the House of Representatives, if Iran does not comply with the new conditions, U.S. sanctions will be reimposed. One of the main objectives of this plan is to eliminate the 'sunset clause' of the JCPOA. According to the 'sunset clause,' after 10 years, Iran can increase its enrichment centrifuges, and after 15 years, it is allowed to increase its stock of low-enriched uranium. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, requested Donald Trump, the President of the United States, to take action regarding the 'sunset clause' of the JCPOA during a meeting in September 2017. Netanyahu, who traveled to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, emphasized that Israel, whether in the form of amending or abolishing the agreement, seeks the elimination of problematic provisions of the JCPOA. Liz Cheney, another American lawmaker supporting this plan, stated in her press release: 'The Obama-Iran agreement is perhaps the most destructive agreement our country has reached, and President Trump was right to discredit this agreement.' A similar proposal is also being prepared in the U.S. Senate. During his election campaign and after taking office, Trump described the JCPOA as the 'worst' agreement he had ever seen. He had promised that the U.S. would withdraw from this agreement. Last week, Trump once again signed the suspension of Iran's sanctions but stated that he would no longer certify this agreement. According to a U.S. congressional resolution, the President must certify the nuclear agreement every three months. Certification of the JCPOA by the U.S. President is an internal procedure of the country and is not part of the nuclear agreement. Iran has rejected renegotiating the JCPOA and adding issues outside the agreement; Iran states that it will act according to the provisions outlined in the JCPOA in the event of the U.S. withdrawal. Russia, China, the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union have opposed the U.S. government's position and stated that other issues, such as the missile program, should not be linked to the nuclear agreement. These countries have also rejected renegotiating the JCPOA. However, European countries have expressed concern about Iran's ballistic missile program. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed Iran's compliance with the JCPOA in its quarterly reports.