Senior Republican Congressman: Iran is Pursuing Nuclear Weapons Without Cheating

Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, states that Iran is "moving towards acquiring nuclear weapons even without cheating." Royce, a critic of the nuclear agreement with Iran, said in a statement on July 16, marking the second anniversary of the agreement in 2015, that "two years after President Obama announced his 'deal' with Iran, the Ayatollah is still striving for the atomic bomb." The statement claims that Tehran is "on the path to obtaining nuclear weapons even without cheating." The senior Republican congressman asserts that "the Iranian government has added to its illegal ballistic program" and "just last week it was reported that the German security agency became aware of Iran's attempts to purchase nuclear weapon technology." It has previously been reported that a German intelligence agency stated that Iran targeted German companies to advance its missile program and, in one case, sought assistance from a Chinese company. The Fox website quoted German intelligence officials as saying that Iran was apparently trying to buy "complex metal production devices" from German companies through a Chinese front company. In his latest statement, the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee again criticized the nuclear agreement, describing it as "deeply flawed." Following the agreement made between Tehran and six world powers, the U.S. State Department must inform Congress every 90 days whether Iran has complied with the terms of the JCPOA. Reports from July 11 indicate that the Trump administration is "likely" to certify Iran's compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for another period, although it will remain "skeptical" about Tehran's nuclear agreement. The website "Weekly Standard" quoted a spokesperson from the U.S. State Department as saying that the agency will remain "committed" to the terms of the JCPOA, although it will continue to review and finalize its policy towards Iran. At the beginning of July, the third "six-month" report of the UN Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2231 and the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers was published. This report stated that the Secretary-General has not received any information indicating the supply, sale, or transfer of nuclear equipment and materials to Iran in violation of Security Council Resolution 2231. Antonio Guterres also urged Iran to refrain from conducting missile tests as they could increase tensions.