History in the Making: Iran Nuclear Deal Reached

Commander in chief - “Today, after two years of negotiations, the United States together with its international partners have achieved something that decades of animosity has not,” President Barack Obama told the American people in a televised address from the White House this morning. “A comprehensive long term deal with Iran that will prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”

-- In the speech, which was broadcast live in Tehran, Obama heralded the deal saying, “This deal demonstrates that American diplomacy can bring about real and meaningful change. Change that makes our country and the world more secure.” The deal he said, is “not built on trust, it is built on verification.”

--“As Congress and the American people review this deal, it will be important to consider the alternative. Without this deal, there is no scenario where the world joins us in sanctioning Iran until it completely dismantles its nuclear program. This deal offers an opportunity to move in a new direction," Obama added. “We should seize it." Video of the full announcement and other White House resources on the deal here. http://1.usa.gov/1yKm5lf

Full text: The Iran deal - The full text of the Iran deal is available here, courtesy of The Washington Post. http://wapo.st/1K5PsFX

Our take - Ploughshares Fund hails today’s Iran nuclear agreement as a “groundbreaking triumph for U.S. diplomacy and security... This is a very good deal. It is a major victory for American national security. We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb, without putting a single U.S. soldier in harm’s way,” said Joe Cirincione, President of Ploughshares Fund. Full press release here. http://bit.ly/1I0dwuw

Why the Iran Deal is a Good One - The Center for International Policy has put together a fact sheet explaining the benefits of the nuclear deal. The highlights include:

1. “The deal blocks Iran’s pathways to nuclear weapons.” - Iran will cut its number of operating centrifuges in half and breakout time will increase fourfold.

2. “Rigorous and unprecedented inspections will detect any Iranian attempt to renege on the deal.” - Iran will be subject to the most intrusive inspections regime ever negotiated, if they cheat, they will be caught.

3. There is no “better deal later.” Rejecting this deal puts us on the path to war. - Without a deal, Iran’s path to nuclear weapons will be unrestricted, making war more likely.

4. The deal eliminates a major security threat and allows greater focus on Iran’s support for terrorism and its human rights abuses.

5. “Sanctions relief depends on Iran’s willingness to abide by its commitments under the deal.” - U.S. sanctions will be suspended only after the IAEA verifies that Iran has taken the key steps it agreed to as part of the nuclear deal.

6. “The American people want a deal with Iran.” - There is no ambiguity. Polls show a clear majority of Americans support a deal with Iran.

-- Full breakdown here. http://bit.ly/1HiS6Fc

Key Players React - @JohnKerry: Agreement is a step away from specter of conflict, towards possibility of peace. This is the good deal we have sought http://bit.ly/1LeIEHz

Foreign Minister Zarif - @JZarif: If #IranDeal reached, triumph of diplomacy means we all will have won when we all could have lost. Plain and simple; no spin needed.

President Rouhani - @HassanRouhani: This agreement goes both ways. The successful implements of #IranDeal can dismantle the wall of mistrust brick by brick. #RouhaniLive

Joint Statement: EU High Rep. Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif - “It is a great honour for us to announce that we have reached an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue. With courage, political will, mutual respect and leadership, we delivered on what the world was hoping for: a shared commitment to peace and to join hands in order to make our world safer. This is an historic day also because we are creating the conditions for building trust and opening a new chapter in our relationship.” Full statement here. http://bit.ly/1HZAtje

Report: The Days After a Deal - The RAND Corporation’s recent report lays out scenarios for how a post deal environment should be navigated. “In the wake of a diplomatic agreement that includes promises of sanctions relief, new U.S. sanctions would likely scuttle the deal, drive Iran to resume high-level enrichment, undermine global support for sanctions, and leave the United States internationally isolated.” Full report here. http://bit.ly/1u1CuVB

IAEA roadmap for PMD clarification - Earlier today, representatives from Iran and the IAEA signed a “Road-map for the clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear program.” The agreement calls for acceleration and strengthening “cooperation and dialogue aimed at the solution, by the end of 2015, of all past and present outstanding issues that have not already been resolved.” Full statement here. http://bit.ly/1TzRQcC

Public support - “By a 2-to-1 margin, more Americans support the United States and other world powers pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran than oppose it, according to new results from the most recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.” Read full story here. http://nbcnews.to/1T2EpSe

Jewish support - According to a recent J Street poll, “American Jewish support for an agreement with Iran exceeds support for the deal among the general U.S. population. American Jews express strong support for a final agreement that increases inspections in exchange for economic sanctions relief. Fifty-nine percent support such a deal, compared to 53 percent of American adults” (April 2015 CNN poll). Read full article here. http://bit.ly/1K2qMB7

Reactions from the Hill:

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) - “I look forward to robust hearings in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and, if this agreement is what the Administration says it is, it is a major, historic diplomatic breakthrough.” Full statement here. http://1.usa.gov/1O9YVgX

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) - “It is in America’s national security interest that Iran is blocked from ever having a nuclear weapon. Congress has an obligation to vigorously and judiciously review the deal announced today with a seriousness of purpose.” Full statement here. http://1.usa.gov/1RwrSJl

Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) - “I want to read the agreement in detail and fully understand it… Congress will need to scrutinize this deal and answer whether implementing the agreement is worth dismantling our sanctions regime." Full statement here. http://1.usa.gov/1HZR2M4

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) - “The historic nuclear agreement announced today is the product of years of tough, bold and clear-eyed leadership from President Obama...Aggressive restrictions and inspections offer the best long-term plan to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon.” Full statement here. http://1.usa.gov/1L5VwBb

Sen. Angus King (I-ME) - “I welcome the announcement that the United States and its negotiating partners have reached an agreement with Iran, and I look forward to thoroughly examining the details to determine whether or not the deal contains the necessary provisions to ensure that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons capability.” Full statement here. http://1.usa.gov/1HZLnpj

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) - The best way to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is through diplomacy, not war. At a time when the Middle East is awash in crippling violence, we have an opportunity to address one of the most dangerous threats to the United States and the region through a negotiation, and I congratulate President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and their team for the agreement that was reached today.” Full statement here. http://1.usa.gov/1DeOBOf

Expert backing:

J Street welcomes Iran nuclear accord news - “J Street welcomes news of the agreement struck today by the United States and its international partners with Iran to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. It appears to meet the critical criteria around which a consensus of US and international non-proliferation experts has formed for a deal that verifiably blocks each of Iran’s pathways to a nuclear weapon. We congratulate President Obama, Secretary Kerry and the P5+1 for having the resolve, determination, patience and persistence to bring such a difficult negotiation to a successful conclusion.”

--“It will be important for Congress to carefully review this agreement on its merits and at the same time be mindful of the likely consequences of its rejection: a collapse of diplomacy and international sanctions as Iran pushes forward with a nuclear program unimpeded.” Read full release here. http://bit.ly/1M7OKv1

Arms Control Association praises Iran nuclear deal - “Arms Control Association experts say the agreement creates a strong, effective barrier against a nuclear-armed Iran. We join with a wide range of nonproliferation and security experts in assessing that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which is consistent with the April 2 framework agreed to at Lausanne, is a net-plus for nuclear nonproliferation and is clearly in the interest of both the United States, its allies and partners in the Middle East, Iran, and the international community.”

--“In the coming weeks, members of the U.S Congress on both sides of the aisle should carefully examine this complex agreement, evaluate its benefits, and evaluate the alternatives. This is the time to seize—not squander—the chance to put in place an effective, long-term, verifiable deal that blocks Iran’s pathways to nuclear weapons.” http://bit.ly/1Lexi6n

NIAC applauds historic Iran deal - “National Iranian American Council President Trita Parsi: Today, diplomacy has triumphed and war is off the table. The United States and Iran have turned the tide on decades of enmity and instead have secured a nuclear deal that promises a better and brighter future. Major world powers and Iran have sealed a final nuclear deal and heralded the greatest diplomatic achievement of the new millennium.”

--“With a nuclear deal in hand, we who urged that the U.S. and Iran must give diplomacy a chance have been proven right. Even more important, we now know that the U.S. and Iran need not remain hostile enemies, but can interact with each other to achieve shared interests. This nuclear deal provides clear evidence. The time is ripe to build on the relationships the two sides have developed over the course of negotiations and pursue those shared interests…” Full statement here. http://bit.ly/1TzgLgn

Deal deserves congressional support - “The deal reached in Vienna is a watershed achievement, proving that with determination and political will, diplomacy works. Diplomacy has already been successful in freezing Iran's nuclear progress for the first time in a decade. Today, diplomacy has carved out a future that keeps Iran from the bomb, and keeps the United States from another catastrophic war in the Middle East.”

--“In September, members of Congress will have a choice as to whether to support or reject this landmark accord. A clear majority of the American people and national security and non-proliferation experts are calling on members of Congress to support, not sabotage, this historic accomplishment. FCNL’s lobbyists and nationwide network will be working with other faith communities to urge members of Congress to vote in support of his historic deal.” Read full release here. http://bit.ly/1J6kMS4

--For a detailed list of experts who support the Iran deal see: http://bit.ly/1JwR4Lp

John and Javad - “Despite differences in style and world outlook, Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif have managed to form a working relationship based on respect over the course of the Iran nuclear talks — a striking outcome for two [states] with decades of deep and bloody enmity. [Their] example...could be a model for future progress in the relationship.” Read more at The Washington Post here. http://wapo.st/1S2CjiF

Quick Hits:

-- “Obama threatens to veto Congress moves to block Iran deal,” by Fred Imbert for CNBC. http://cnb.cx/1fFzKr3

--“Iran Nuclear Deal Is Reached With World Powers,” by David Sanger and Michael Gordon for The New York Times. http://nyti.ms/1LdMMHZ

--“Nuclear deal spurs prospect for better U.S.-Iran relations,” by Oren Dorell for USA Today. http://usat.ly/1JfEz1t

--“Sanctions Relief Can Empower the Iranian People,” by Peter Harrell, Elizabeth Rosenberg of the Center for a New American Security. http://bit.ly/1IY2xSZ

Events:

--"Implications of a Nuclear Agreement with Iran" Hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs featuring Sen. Lieberman, Gen. Hayden, Undersecretary Burns and Ray Takeyh. July 14th at 10:00am in Rayburn 2172. http://1.usa.gov/1JdXQjS

--“Can the IAEA Effectively Verify an Agreement Between Iran and the P5+1?​" featuring Thomas Shae, former IAEA official, and Jim Walsh. July 15th at 9:30am at The Atlantic Council. http://bit.ly/1D2W9mY

--“The P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Deal: Outcome, Implementation and Verification,” featuring Kelsey Davenport, Ilan Goldenberg, Richard Nephew and Daryl G. Kimball. Thursday, July 16 from 9:30 AM- 11:00 AM. Located at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Root Room, 1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1Mpzney

-- “Iran and the Future of the Regional Security and Economic Landscape,” featuring Dr. Colin H. Kahl, Dr. Suzanne Maloney, David Makovsky, Melissa Dalton, Ilan Goldenberg, Elizabeth Rosenberg, Colin McGinnis, Sean Thornton, Caroline Hurndall and Zachary Goldman. Tuesday, July 21 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Located at NYU Washington, DC, Abramson Family Auditorium (B-1 Level), 1307 L St., NW, Washington, DC. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1Hqobea

--“Negotiating the Gulf: How a Nuclear Agreement Would Redefine GCC-Iran Relations,” featuring Suzanne DiMaggio, Jamal Khashoggi, Nadim Shehadi, Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, and Hussein Ibish. Tuesday, July 21 from 12:00 - 2:00 PM. Located at The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, 1050 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1Mpvzdc

--"Iran and the U.S.: After the Nuclear Negotiations” featuring Amb. Thomas Pickering, Karim Sadjadpour and Amb. Frank Wisner. July 22nd at 6:00pm at Asia Society in New York. http://bit.ly/1M2rn5e