Congresswoman Lee Celebrates a Safer World Thanks to the Iran Deal
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus’s Peace and Security Task Force, released this statement marking the first anniversary of the historic Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement to restrict Iran’s nuclear stockpile and infrastructure:
“One year ago, the global community came together to make the world a safer place by advancing the historic Iran Deal.
Under this agreement, boldly negotiated by President Obama and Secretary Kerry, Iran’s nuclear facilities and infrastructure have been reduced, dismantled and placed under unprecedented levels of scrutiny from international inspectors.
Since the deal went into effect, Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium has been reduced by 98 percent and two-thirds of its centrifuges have been dismantled. Additionally, Iran’s only source of weapons-grade plutonium has been removed and filled in with concrete. Taken together, these actions removed any path for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
Quite simply, this deal has made the US and the world safer by dramatically reducing the threat of war and nuclear weapons.
This deal is not a deal based on trust; it’s based on robust verification and enforcement.
Despite the unqualified success of this deal, Congressional Republicans are recklessly trying to undercut it. Their actions undermine our security and damage our nation’s credibility in negotiating future diplomatic agreements.
If their efforts are successful, the world will become a more dangerous place as Iran’s nuclear program would no longer be subject to verification, inspections or enforcement. Together with my colleagues who support global security, I will continue fighting against their efforts to undermine this historic deal that has made the world safer.”
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.