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(Developing story)
World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S. Lauder reacted on Thursday, April 2, to the preliminary agreement reached by the negotiators of the P5+1 group in Lausanne. He said the key question was if Iran could be trusted to implement the deal. Lauder said that while he appreciated the sustained efforts of the negotiating parties to achieve a deal that would curb Iranian nuclear ambitions, doubts remained that Iran would act in good faith. “I fear a scenario in which, in 10 years, we will have resuscitated the Iranian economy without curbing Iran’s nuclear arms development,” he said.
Lauder also questioned whether Iran can truly be stopped from pursuing a covert nuclear weapons program. While he acknowledged that the P5+1 group, which includes Britain, China, Germany, France, Russia and the United States, had endeavored to reach a diplomatic outcome, “this agreement must also achieve a practical result: It has to ensure that all necessary safeguards are maintained against any deviations by the Islamic Republic.
“Iran must prove beyond doubt that it is willing to implement all aspects of any agreement prior to the lifting of sanctions; failure by Tehran to honor the details of an agreement in full, or any renewed attempts to pursue a covert nuclear weapons program, must immediately trigger new, stronger sanctions and render this agreement null and void.
“A nuclear-armed Iran would pose a grave threat to the wider world and trigger a dangerous arms race in the Middle East. We must not let that happen by putting too much faith in this regime,” Lauder added.
Other comments from Jewish officeholders and organizations:
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC): AIPAC appreciates the hard work and the diplomatic efforts of the Administration to reach an agreement with Iran to end its nuclear weapons program. We have long supported a diplomatic path to achieve this objective. However, we have concerns that the new framework announced today by the P5+1 could result in a final agreement that will leave Iran as a threshold nuclear state and encourage a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Iran’s long history of cheating on its international obligations and its leading role in sponsoring terrorism and violating human rights should disqualify it from possessing the infrastructure for a nuclear weapons program. The P5+1 appears to have stepped back from prior demands – backed by large majorities in Congress –to dismantle significant elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure so that it has no path to a nuclear weapons capability. For example, Iran will be able to maintain its once secret underground facility at Fordow and continue research and development on advanced centrifuges. We note that the framework relies heavily on supervision by the IAEA, whose demands for access to suspect nuclear sites have been ignored by Tehran for well over a decade. Going forward, we believe that the proponents of this agreement must answer many questions, among them: (1) Will this time-limited agreement actually prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability? (2) How will sanctions be reinstated if Iran cheats on the agreement? (3) What will actually happen to the enriched uranium that the framework promises to neutralize? (4) Will all sanctions relief to Iran be delayed until it comes clean on its past weapons development activities? (5) How will Iran be prevented from perfecting its advanced centrifuges so that it cannot rapidly produce highly enriched uranium after 10 years? Because these questions and concerns are central to the definition of what constitutes a good deal, we believe this framework and any subsequent agreement must come before Congress for review. We are encouraged that the two key sponsors of the bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (S. 615) – Senators Corker and Menendez – have reaffirmed their commitment to mark up this legislation on April 14.
Some claim that the only alternatives to this framework are capitulation or military action. We reject that assertion. A clear alternative to a bad deal remains a good deal that is achieved by the application of increased economic and political pressure on Tehran to reach an agreement that transparently does not allow Iran a path to a nuclear weapons capability. That is the best way to ensure that Iran will not develop a nuclear weapons capability and to reinforce nuclear nonproliferation in the Middle East.”
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American Jewish Committee: “We appreciate the determined efforts of the U.S. team, spearheaded by Secretary of State John Kerry, and joined by the other five countries in the negotiating process with Iran, and can only begin to imagine the time and effort that has gone into these very difficult and complex negotiations,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris, who has followed the Iran nuclear issue for more than 15 years. Like so many, we earnestly hope for a diplomatic solution that will be durable and ensure the prevention of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Yet, we are fully cognizant that, as President Obama stated, ‘the work is not yet done and success is not guaranteed.’ Given the nature of the Iranian regime, its pattern of seeking to deceive the international community on its nuclear program, its support for global terror and its regional hegemonic ambitions, its repeated calls for a world without Israel, and its clandestine weapons efforts, AJC is deeply concerned about whether Iran will abide by any undertaking it makes, and if any inspections regime will be sufficient to monitor Iran’s full compliance. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which will be mandated to conduct the inspections, has faced repeated obstacles from the regime in Tehran, especially when it comes to possible military dimensions of the Iranian program. Moreover, we know that once sanctions are lifted, and that is supposed to happen in response to specific steps taken by Iran, they will be difficult to put back in place, given the realities of coordinating with other countries, should Tehran subsequently seek to violate commitments made. Thus, AJC will closely follow the ensuing negotiations, and shall continue to support Congressional review of the agreement, precisely as majorities of Democrats and Republicans have sought. “A deal of this magnitude, which has directly involved Congress over many years, calls for an appropriate role for our elected officials in the legislative branch,” said Harris. AJC also seeks close monitoring of the region to see how countries that have threatened to introduce nuclear programs of their own in response to Iran’s long-standing efforts react to today’s announcement. There has long been fear of an escalation in the most explosive, arms-laden region of the world, where Shiite-Sunni and Iranian-Arab tensions have been growing stronger. The announcement of the agreement came just before AJC leaders, led by Harris and AJC President Stanley Bergman, met at the State Department with Deputy Secretary Blinken for well over an hour.
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Anti-Defamation League: “The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today voiced strong concern over the “many unanswered questions” regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program announced earlier today in Lausanne, Switzerland, which forms the foundation of progress made so far in discussions between the P5+1 nations and Iran. Among the parameters of the accord, Iran has agreed to reduce the number of installed centrifuges, to not enrich uranium over 3.67 percent for at least 15 years, and to reduce its current stockpile of low-enriched uranium. Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement: While we all would welcome a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear program, there are many unanswered questions whether the deal has the potential to achieve what President Obama has sought in terms of reducing Iran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon. The proposed accord has many obstacles to it because Iran simply cannot be trusted. The apparent rush to remove sanctions gives Iran an incentive to comply with the terms of the agreement, but once sanctions are removed, then what? The Iranian regime has not changed, and we do not expect a change in its behavior. Iran’s history of covert activity, noncompliance, and never owning up to that history warrants strong skepticism. Based on Iran’s history of non-compliance and continuing aggression throughout the region, we assume Iran will continue to seek a nuclear-weapon capability and frustrate the implementation of the comprehensive verification mechanisms described in the agreed parameters. We worry that disputes over monitoring and verification activities will be dragged out and allow Iran time and space for illicit activities. Now is the time for robust congressional review of what may be achieved and may not be because there are a lot of unanswered questions as to the implementation and the verification. Over the next few weeks, experts, the American public and Congress should have an opportunity to hear more from the administration, to analyze the outline and engage in the “robust debate” the president has encouraged. Congress will have a critically important role to play on behalf of the American people as it engages with the Administration in this process. Secretary Kerry and his team clearly expended great effort to reach this point, and we express appreciation for their work, knowing it is just one more step on the path to reaching that goal.”
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U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-California): “Now that all parties have agreed to a framework, Congress has a choice: support these negotiations or disrupt them and potentially jeopardize this historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. We don’t yet know the details of a final deal, but initial reports are promising, and if the U.S. had prematurely ended talks on nuclear issues in the past, we would never have had historic and critical international agreements like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the New START Treaty. The Obama Administration has worked tirelessly to reach this point and I will work to ensure that Congress has the patience to support this diplomatic effort because the risks of walking away from the table are simply too high.”U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut): “This framework may reflect progress towards stopping a nuclear-armed Iran – a vital national interest – but it must be carefully reviewed and assessed. As a supporter of strong and strengthening sanctions, I believe these strictly-enforced economic measures brought Iran to the table. My views on best next steps will depend on an in-depth review of the framework’s details. Although I have reservations about gaps in this framework, I continue to hope for diplomatic efforts that lead to a final agreement that is airtight, comprehensive, enduring and strictly verifiable. I will advocate that Congress have an appropriate role in scrutinizing this framework and any final agreement.”
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U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland): “The United States – executive branch and Congress – are unified in our goal to ensure that Iran is blocked from ever having a nuclear weapon. The best outcome is a strong diplomatic one. This framework and the ultimate agreement cannot be based on trust; there is no trust when it comes to Iran. The final agreement must be verifiable and transparent, making it clear that any violations would result in an immediate restoration of the strongest possible sanctions. Congress has a role to play in this process and I look forward to reviewing all the details of this long-sought agreement that Secretary of State John Kerry and our allies have negotiated.”
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U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee): “No one wants a nuclear Iran, and this tentative agreement reflects that reality. Those who sought to undermine these negotiations would be well served to remember that the alternative to an agreement is an Iran with no limits on or international monitoring of its efforts to enrich uranium. We should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, especially when the ‘perfect’ that many seek is unrealistic. I, along with many of my colleagues, look forward to learning the details of the final June 30th agreement and hope it is a step in the right direction towards a non-nuclear Iran.”
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Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations: Robert G. Sugarman, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations released the following statement: “We acknowledge the tireless efforts of Secretary Kerry and the United States negotiating team in reaching the political framework agreement which was announced today. The agreement, however, leaves many questions and issues unresolved. As the parties work to turn the agreement into a detailed accord, the value, viability and sustainability of any such accord, particularly in view of Iran’s past history of obfuscation and evasion, will depend on the following questions, among others: (1) What research and development activities will be permitted under the R&D plan submitted to the IAEA and the JCPOA (2) Will IAEA inspectors be able to visit Iranian facilities without advanced notice? (3) How quickly will Iran’s Arak facility be modified so as to prevent any production of plutonium which has no use other than for military purposes? (4) How will the possible military dimensions (PMD) of Iran’s nuclear program be addressed? (5) What are the details of the phased sanctions relief that is to be provided and what are the mechanics of the snap-back of those sanctions in the event of non-compliance? (6) What are the specifics of the provisions relating to the expiration of restrictions to be imposed on Iran? We strongly believe that Congress must have an active role and be given the opportunity to review any potential final agreement. We also urge the Administration to work with Congress in agreeing on and preparing for immediate implementation of legislation which would impose new and severe sanctions in the event that a detailed accord cannot be reached or that Iran violates the terms of any accord. We are very troubled by Iran’s continuing activity as the leading global state sponsor of terror and its constant threats to destroy the State of Israel. For example, Iran has just announced that it will provide Hezbollah with advanced warheads with highly accurate guidance systems. Iran has also confirmed its additional shipment of significant military equipment to the Houthis. We call on the Administration to take decisive action, together with our allies in the Middle East, to confront and curb Iran’s support of terror groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, as well as its support for the Assad regime, and to speak out whenever officials in Iran make threats against Israel. Both the United States and Israel, and their leaders, are committed to a peaceful solution of the Iranian nuclear issue. However, any solution must provide long term assurance that Iran will not be able to acquire a nuclear weapons capability.”
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U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-New York): “Today’s announcement is the culmination of months of negotiations and compromise. We now need to take a close look at the details to determine if the compromises made are worth the dismantling of years of pressure built on Iran. As I’ve said again and again, no deal is better than a bad deal, and we need to ensure that this agreement forecloses any pathway to a bomb. I also want to underscore that the challenge posed by Iran does not stop with its nuclear program. Iran has created instability across the region and supported terrorism around the world. Nothing in this agreement should prevent the United States from taking action to prevent Iran from sowing further chaos and violence against American interests. I welcome the outreach toward our regional allies, including Israel and our GCC partners, that the President outlined in his Rose Garden remarks. As we move ahead with negotiations with Iran, our allies must know that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them to ensure their security and protection from Iran’s destabilizing activities.”
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U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota): “Americans want to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and they would prefer to do it through diplomacy rather than military action. This breakthrough agreement is an important step toward that goal. I believe that Congress now should give our negotiators time and space to work out the details of a strong, verifiable comprehensive agreement.”
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J Street: “J Street welcomes the historic framework for a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached in international negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. We applaud the tireless and continuing efforts of Secretary of State John Kerry and the US negotiating team in pursuing a diplomatic resolution that will verifiably prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Such an agreement will be in the essential interests of the United States, its allies in the region–including Israel–and the world. As President Barack Obama outlined shortly after the framework was announced, it is essential that the final months of negotiations result in an agreement that cuts off each of Iran’s potential pathways to acquiring the fissile material necessary for a nuclear weapon. That agreement must also put in place intrusive inspections and verification methods to ensure that Iran complies with its obligations. We look forward to evaluating the final terms of such an agreement upon or before the June 30, 2015 end of the negotiating period. With the critical details of a comprehensive agreement yet to be worked out, it is more important than ever that Congress not take actions that will undermine America’s negotiators at the table. There must also be no question that, if a final agreement ultimately cannot be reached, the United States is not to blame. We therefore continue to oppose new sanctions legislation currently before the Senate, and remain committed to working with Senators and Members of Congress toward legislation that provides for robust and responsible Congressional oversight of Iranian compliance with any agreement reached.”
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U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-New York): “I appreciate Secretary Kerry’s tireless efforts and the diplomatic goals set out by President Obama. While the framework laid out by President Obama and Secretary Kerry has positive aspects, far too many details remain undetermined to ensure Congress and the American people that we are on track to permanently and verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The agreement must ensure full disclosure, thorough inspections of facilities, and strict verification of compliance. Iran must allow full and unfettered access to any facility including Parchin, Fordow, Natanz, and others, military or otherwise. The Administration will have a high bar to convince Congress and the American people that this deal is good for our long-term national security and that of our allies, and that it will verifiably prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon.”
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Republican Jewish Coalition: “We applaud the President and his statement when he says he welcomes a robust debate on the parameters for an agreement. We are pleased that Senator Corker has reaffirmed his commitment to a Congressional vote. Now is the time for the Corker-Graham-Menendez bill to be passed so that this deal is transparent and has the necessary Congressional oversight. This is not a time for celebration but a time for analysis of the implication and ramifications of this framework. This is a foundational document and is not yet a verifiable deal. It is troubling that the Iranians are so elated with this agreement. Those worried about a nuclear Iran must remain vigilant as centrifuges keep spinning and enriching uranium and yet another stage of negotiations is poised to begin.”
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U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont): “While much more work remains to be done this framework is an important step forward. It is imperative that Iran not get a nuclear weapon. It also is imperative that we do everything we can to reach a diplomatic solution and avoid never-ending war in the Middle East. I look forward to examining the details of this agreement and making sure that it is effective and strong.”
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U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois): “Today’s announcement of a framework for a comprehensive agreement between the United States, our allies, and Iran that will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is a significant diplomatic achievement. The intrusive inspection regime that includes continuous surveillance of Iran’s enrichment facilities, uranium mines and mills, centrifuge production and storage facilities – the entire nuclear supply chain – makes it nearly impossible for Iran to ‘cheat’ without detection. Much of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure will be rolled back or halted altogether. Only about 5,000 of its current 19,000 centrifuges will be allowed to enrich uranium, the heavy-water Arak reactor will be rebuilt to specifications agreed to by the P5+1 (United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Germany) and Iran will be prohibited from producing weapons-grade plutonium. No uranium will be enriched over 3.67 percent for 15 years. The fact that sanctions will be lifted only when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified that Iran has been in full compliance is an incentive for Iran to cooperate. I am grateful to President Barack Obama, Secretary John Kerry and his team, as well as our allies for establishing this robust and verifiable agreement. Over the next three months the t’s must be crossed and i’s dotted in order to put the agreement into action. I will be working in Congress to make sure that we play a constructive role in supporting this historic diplomatic achievement, one that will make the region – including our closest ally, Israel – the United States and the world safer.”
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U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California): ““While important details still need to be worked out, the framework agreement between Iran and the P5+1 indicates that a negotiated resolution of Iran’s nuclear program may be possible. While I reserve judgment on whether a final deal will materialize or would enjoy my support, enough progress has been made to warrant the additional time necessary to determine if the remaining issues can be resolved. In the interim, Congress must ensure that its actions do not preclude reaching an acceptable agreement or be seen as scuttling a peaceful path to ending Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Many significant parameters of a comprehensive agreement have been set out, and in greater detail than many, myself included, believed would be possible during this stage of the negotiations. These critical variables — the number of centrifuges, generation of centrifuges, permissible research, location of uranium stockpiles, duration of an agreement, intrusive nature of inspections, pace of sanctions relief, availability of a snap back in sanctions, among other matters — are set out with a certain degree of specificity. Nonetheless, within each criteria there remain important uncertainties and I would encourage all members of Congress to withhold judgment until we see whether and what a final package might include. Preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons is a vital national security imperative for the United States and our allies. Every option must be on the table; importantly, that includes the diplomatic option the P5+1 has been pursuing. Critical issues remain, but this framework indicates that a negotiated resolution may be possible, and I congratulate the P5+1 on its work thus far.”
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Union for Reform Judaism: “The United States has today announced a statement of progress between the P5+1 and Iran on the future of Iran’s nuclear program. The position of our Movement has long been that Iran must not be permitted under any circumstances to obtain nuclear weaponry and the best way to resolve the nuclear issue is a negotiated agreement among the parties. We thank the Obama administration for its determination to reach a negotiated settlement, even while stating that all options remain open should a settlement not be achieved. It has led an international effort to advance these negotiations and to impose sanctions on Iran until the negotiations are concluded. A negotiated resolution of these problems will be difficult to reach, but all the alternatives to such a resolution are grim. At the same time, we express our grave concerns about aspects of the announced framework. Very serious questions about such matters as inspection, verification, break-out time, and the timing of removal or easing of sanctions remain. Concerns raised by Prime Minister Netanyahu and others about Iran’s nuclear weapons program are serious and real. It seems clear that the Iranian government has yet to make the significant concessions that will be required of it. Since the final details of the agreement are to be established by the end of June, we urge the Obama administration to remain firm in its commitment to resolve the negotiations successfully on favorable terms, assuring the American people and the international community that Iran’s nuclear program will be transparent and peaceful. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and carefully consider the parameters and implications of relevant legislation moving through the Congress.”
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U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Kentucky): ““It was an honor to be at the White House for this historic announcement to limit Iran’s nuclear program and prevent them from developing a nuclear weapon. I believe this is a deal worth supporting, but we must wait to ensure there is no backsliding on any parameters before a final agreement is signed. I commend President Obama and Secretary Kerry, as well as our global partners, for this breakthrough that holds the promise of a safer world and more stable Middle East.”
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Preceding culled from news releases
Articles dealing with Jewish women in Congress are sponsored by Laura Galinson in memory of her father, Murray Galinson.
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