Ernst on President’s Decision not to Certify Iran Deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a combat veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued this statement following President Trump’s decision not to certify the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly referred to as the “Iran deal”:

“Two years ago, I warned that the JCPOA fell dangerously short of its intended goal to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program. Today, it is clear that the flawed agreement negotiated by then-President Obama has indeed paved the way for Iran to obtain and deliver a nuclear weapon without repercussion. 

“Overtly, the Iranian regime continues to exploit loopholes in JCPOA to advance its ballistic missile capability. Covertly, Iranian weaponization efforts are unknown, as military leaders have stated publicly they will refuse to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections of their sites. All the while, sanctions relief has fueled Iran’s support for its terrorist organization proxies engaged in malign activities in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Afghanistan, and elsewhere – places where these groups are engaged in direct combat with American servicemembers or our partners. Indisputably the JCPOA failed to meet its requirements to appropriately and proportionally contain Iran’s nefarious activities – the original purpose of the agreement. 

“Therefore, I support President Trump’s decision not to certify the deal under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. This action does not withdraw the United States from the JCPOA, but rather, it provides an opportunity for Congress to work with the Trump administration and our allies to fix the failures of the original agreement. We will maintain a position of global leadership by upholding our obligations, while finally beginning to hold Iran accountable for not meeting the expectations of the international community. This starts today with the President’s decision not to certify the deal, and his decision to target the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps for proliferating weapons, abusing human rights, and sponsoring terror. 

“I look forward to working with the Trump administration, my congressional colleagues, and overseas partners in the weeks and months ahead to formalize a strategy that successfully achieves its objectives and protects American interests.”