Former Senior U.S. Diplomats and Military Leaders Support Nuclear Framework Agreement with Iran
April 10, 2015, Washington, D.C. – On April 6th, the Iran Project published a bipartisan statement in support of the announced framework agreement between the P5+1 (U.S., U.K. China, France, Germany, and Russia) and Iran over its nuclear program. The statement was signed by more than fifty senior retired government officials and national security experts. The signatories include former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, former Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN), as well as Vali Nasr, former senior advisor to the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“We welcome the announcement that the U.S. government and other major world powers have reached a framework accord to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon,” the statement reads. “This achievement is the result of the sustained effort of the Foreign Ministers of seven governments spanning nearly 18 months, to put in place a set of constraints and inspections that would limit Iran’s nuclear program to peaceful purposes.”
Although the technical details of the agreement have yet to be resolved, the statement notes that important national security objectives have been achieved including, limitations on Iran’s uranium enrichment and plutonium production, a two-thirds reduction in installed centrifuges, and regular inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities for the next 10-25 years.
The statement also urges members of Congress to refrain from taking actions that could stymie progress in the negotiations and reach a final comprehensive deal with Iran. It suggests for Congress to hold hearings and discuss the matter before pursuing any potentially detrimental measures.
The Iran Project statement supports the results of PAAIA’s 2014 National Public Opinion Survey of Iranian Americans which indicates that an overwhelming number of Iranian Americans would like to see a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear dispute with Iran. Nearly two-thirds would support the removal of nuclear-related sanctions if a comprehensive deal is successfully brokered.
Click here for easily accessible information about the on–going nuclear negotiations between Iran and the members of the P5+1.
