PAAIA Welcomes the Extension of Sanctions Relief Under Iran Nuclear Deal
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Morad Ghorban
Email: Morad@45.33.40.89
Phone: (202)-828-8370
PAAIA Welcomes the Extension of Sanctions Relief Under Iran Nuclear Deal
Urges Trump Administration to Continue Implementing JCPOA
Washington, D.C. – The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian organization that represents the interests of the Iranian American community, today welcomed an impending decision by the Trump Administration to waive sanctions against Iran, upholding a critical component of the Iran Nuclear Agreement – otherwise known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – between the P5+1 coalition (U.S., U.K., France, Russia, China, and Germany), the European Union and Iran. PAAIA’s 2017 poll of Iranian Americans found that 60 percent of survey respondents want to see the JCPOA upheld.
“American interests are best served by supporting the Iran Nuclear Deal and engaging the Iranian people,” said Leila Golestaneh Austin, PAAIA’s Executive Director. “PAAIA encourages the Trump Administration to continue taking steps to implement the nuclear deal. The deal presents an opportunity for Iran’s path out of its long isolation and is its best chance to avoid another disastrous war in the Middle East.”
Under the terms of the JCPOA, Iran curbed its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief which must be periodically renewed. The Trump Administration renewed those waivers, marking the second-time sanctions relief has been extended since President Trump came into office.
Through the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, the administration must also issue a certification to Congress every 90 days that Iran is in compliance with its obligations under the JCPOA. Failure to certify gives Congress the option to reimpose U.S. sanctions lifted under the JCPOA.
A scientific, data-driven report on the implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement commissioned by PAAIA concludes that the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions has been critical in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capabilities. The report recommends that the U.S. uphold the threat of nuclear related sanctions without reemploying or instituting new ones.
“As long as Iran upholds its commitments under the JCPOA, the United States should avoid measures that would derail the agreement and splinter international cooperation over Iran’s nuclear program,” added Austin. “Such actions only strengthen hardline elements in Iran who want to see the collapse of the agreement and alienate the Iranian people who want their country to engage the international community in a positive way.”
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