Institute for Voices of Liberty sent the following letter to Members of The United States Congress to reflect the sentiment of freedom seeking people of Iran on the dangers of returning to JCPOA.
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Committee on Foreign Relations
The United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
As the United States approaches the prospect of a seventh round of negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) over the latter's nuclear program, we wish to express our concern that negotiations — much less a deal with the regime, no longer meets America's national interests. Indeed, summary sanctions relief could threaten the security of our country and its people.
There are facts that corroborate this perspective and we wish to bring them to your attention.
The IRI has grown its nuclear activities to a threshold at which a return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is unrealistic, if not impossible, to address the proliferation concerns. The JCPOA's "sunset" clauses will provide the opportunity for the IRI to manufacture nuclear weapons in 10 years, perhaps even sooner.
The regime in Iran is unwilling to compromise on matters other than its nuclear program, including international terrorism, destabilizing behavior in the region, human rights violations and its arsenal of ballistic missiles. Therefore, we believe the State Department's pursuit of a longer and stronger deal is implausible.
The IRI is too unreliable for the US to enter an accord with. In 2019, Israel exposed the regime's covert nuclear weapons program that was in violation of the JCPOA, as well as the Non-Proliferation Treaty. In addition, the IRI recently reneged on its commitment to the IAEA.
Easing sanctions on the IRI will help finance its criminal activities in other areas. The regime has claimed unconditional support for the "Axis of Resistance," which consists of proxy militia groups in the region.
The IRI is a key perpetrator of global cyber terrorism. The regime's hackers have targeted more than 170 universities around the world, stealing $3.4 billion worth of intellectual property.
The IRI continues with the practice of hostage-taking in order to use the victims as bargaining chips for international transactions. Currently, three Americans and one US permanent resident are detained inside Iran. The IRI is complicit in criminal activities inside the US. In July 2021, a plot to abduct an Iranian American journalist and women's rights activist was foiled by the FBI.
Based on its past and present conduct, we believe the IRI will violate the terms of any future accord with the US. Even if it symbolically stays committed to a nuclear deal, the regime will escalate its malign behavior on other fronts.
We respectfully request that the Senate and particularly the Committee on Foreign Relations objectively and seriously assess the merits of further negotiations with the IRI and oversee the process of engagement with the Tehran regime. The Senate should use its authority to challenge any policy and approach that is deemed counterproductive and harmful to the interests of the US and its allies.
We appreciate your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely yours,
Institute for Voices of Liberty
The Institute for Voices of Liberty is a not-for-profit entity. Its mission is to reflect the voices of freedom seeking people of Iran.
Contact: Nicole Sadighi
Email: Nicolesadighi@gmail.com
Ivol.institute
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Original Source: Institute for Voices of Liberty Alerts Congress on the Dangers of Trusting the Islamic Republic
