National Security Leaders Support Iran Deal, Caution Congress

Strong support - A bipartisan group of more than 50 former foreign policy and military leaders, including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and National Security Advisors Brent Scowcroft, Sandy Berger and Zbigniew Brzezinski, released a letter applauding the framework agreement and urging Congress to avoid undermining the negotiations for a final deal.

--”Members of Congress and America’s leaders have an obligation to their nation to review the consequences of undermining the ongoing negotiations or blocking the chances of reaching a [final agreement],” the letter reads.

--“The repercussions could be grave, including creating the perception that the U.S. is responsible for the collapse of the agreement; unraveling international cooperation on sanctions; and triggering the unfreezing of Iran's nuclear program and the rapid ramping up of Iranian nuclear capacity. Such a situation could enhance the possibility of war.” Full letter: http://bit.ly/1FxKeAC

The fantasy of a better deal - “This is a good deal. We should not be distracted by talk of a better one,” writes Sandy Berger in POLITICO. “Enacting new, tough sanctions in an effort to force Iran toward a “better” deal would mystify and alarm the rest of the world, isolating and weakening us. Such sanctions would crumble under their own weight.” http://politi.co/1CsgFMf

Tweaks - After the framework agreement, Senate Democrats say they are reluctant to back the Corker bill if it kills the talks, but also reluctant to give up congressional oversight of a final deal. “The White House has decided that they can’t avoid congressional review altogether,” one senior Democratic aide told POLITICO. “Democrats want to talk about what tweaks they can make that the administration can live with.”

--The “tweaks” they’re looking for are still undefined. “I’m looking for the administration to reach out and fully inform members of the committee,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.). “I do not want to undermine the prospects for a strong, enforceable verifiable deal.”

--“It depends how it’s handled the next two to three weeks. I’m not in if it’s a partisan weapon,” Sen. Angus King (I-ME), a co-sponsor of the Corker bill, said. Full story from POLITICO. http://politi.co/1NNKHRa

--See Also: Chuck Schumer bucks White House on Iran http://politi.co/1FadU9D

Selling the deal - In a state TV interview, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif emphasized that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure will remain intact and said that all UN Security Council resolutions related to Iran's nuclear program will be lifted immediately if a final deal is agreed.

--Zarif indicated that the timing of sanctions relief will be a key area of contention between Iran and the U.S. as negotiations over a final deal continue. http://reut.rs/1GYE2n6

--See Also: “Iran’s Leaders Begin Tricky Task of Selling Nuclear Deal at Home,” by Thomas Erdbrink in the New York Times. http://nyti.ms/1GgKF5g

Preventing sneak out - “The Lausanne approach would effectively take the option of racing to the bomb at the known, inspected facilities off the table for Iran, with a combination of limits and inspections that offer high confidence that any such effort would be noticed in plenty of time for the world to act,” writes Matthew Bunn in the National Interest.

--”Several provisions also increase the chance that any secret sites would be found in time… [Stockpile caps] mean a secret site would need to be much bigger… Inspectors would have access to Iran’s stocks of extra centrifuges and key centrifuge parts… Broader access for inspectors would increase the chance of being able to go and check any site where well-documented suspicions arose.” http://bit.ly/1NNFvwA

Up next: Pakistan - ”If and when [the Iran] deal is made final, America and the other major powers that worked on it — China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany — should turn their attention to South Asia, a troubled region with growing nuclear risks of its own.” The New York Times editorial board on the growing risks of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. http://nyti.ms/1Jkzzul

How to waste $10 billion - Over the last decade, the Missile Defense Agency has spent $10 billion on programs that had to be killed after they proved unworkable. The LA Times takes a deep dive into the Sea-Based X-Band Radar and other missile defense boondoggles. http://bit.ly/1FaFMVM

Tweet - @Gottemoeller: Watch the Prague Speech again: http://1.usa.gov/1IDXxzH & check out US efforts to reach the goals laid out in Prague: http://state.gov/npt

New START numbers - Slight decreases across the board for the U.S. and Russian strategic warheads and delivery vehicles, according to the State Department’s updated New START fact sheet: http://1.usa.gov/1F6oetV

Quick Hits:

--“Iran Top General Signals Supreme Leader Nuclear Deal Backing,” by Ladane Nasseri and Golnar Motevalli for Bloomberg. http://bloom.bg/1MXKi3q

--“Saudi Arabia welcomes Iran nuclear deal, seeks region free of WMD: statement,” from Reuters. http://reut.rs/1ICQAPp

--“Pope Francis Lauds Iran Nuclear Deal,” by David Knowles for Reuters. http://bloom.bg/1NNBbxa

--“Skeptical Senate Puts New Iran Sanctions on Hold” by Eli Lake and Josh Rogin for Bloomberg. http://bv.ms/1CglOXr