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Changes to Iran deal could come next week – Tillerson ‘Fix or cancel’: Tillerson says a change to law on Iran deal could come next week
(about 7 hours later)
The Trump administration is working on a legislative fix with key lawmakers that could create a pathway for the US to remain a signatory to the Iran nuclear deal. The changes could come as early as next week. The Trump administration is working on a “legislative fix” it claims it needs to remain in the Iran nuclear deal – despite numerous international agencies and bodies calling on Washington to honor the original agreement.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the Associated Press that he is meeting with congressional leaders “on a very active basis,” to hammer out a legislative solution to keep the US signed on to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been meeting with congressional leaders “on a very active basis” to draw up legislation which will “fix” the Iran deal. The proposed changes will likely “strengthen the way the US enforces the agreement,” and could come as early as next week, according to the Associated Press.
Trump will next week again consider whether or not to certify Tehran's compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement. A certification would grant the Iranian economy some relief from potential US sanctions. Lawmakers are also considering changing the legislation so that Trump would no longer be required to certify Iran’s compliance with the deal. Another legislative proposal reportedly brought up would allow more time in between US certification deadlines. Any of these changes, however, would have to get significant support among Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
Talks between Congress, the State Department and the White House are expected to settle on a compromise that would not increase restrictions on Iran's nuclear activity. Trump wants further measures. However, there are options that would strengthen the way the US enforces the 2015 agreement, possibly persuading Trump that the deal is worthwhile for the US to stay in, AP reported. “The president said he is either going to fix it or cancel it,” Tillerson told AP. “We are in the process of trying to deliver on the promise he made to fix it.”
“The president said he is either going to fix it or cancel it,” Tillerson said, according to AP. “We are in the process of trying to deliver on the promise he made to fix it.” However, many dispute whether the deal needs “fixing” at all. Brokered and signed by the US, UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) places limitations on Iran’s controversial nuclear energy program in return for the lifting of economic sanctions on Tehran. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly confirmed that Iran is sticking to the agreement.
“I don’t want to suggest we’re across the finish line on anything yet,” the secretary of state cautioned. In October, Trump announced that he would not certify Iran’s compliance with the deal, despite his administration acknowledging that Tehran was in “technical compliance” with the JCPOA. His decision came less than two weeks after top US military officials confirmed Iran’s compliance to Congress.
Getting an agreement in Congress in such a short period of time could be challenging, but an unnamed congressional aide confirmed to AP that there has been significant progress in the discussions. However, that same aide said negotiations have not started on a specific text in relation to the so-called fix. In response, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on Washington to honor the deal, and EU foreign ministers issued a joint statement describing the 2015 accord as vital to preventing the global spread of nuclear weapons. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also warned of the “immediate danger of war” if the US pulled out of the deal. He added that the European Union should “tell the Americans that their behavior on the Iran issue will drive us Europeans into a common position with Russia and China against the USA.”
Trump has yet to make a formal decision. In October, he declined to certify Iran's compliance with the agreement, stating that the sanctions relief the US was affording Iran was disproportionate to Iran's concessions in the deal. At that time, Trump also stated that the JCPOA wasn't in America's national interest. In accordance with a mechanism set up by the US Congress, the nuclear agreement has to be re-assessed by an American president every 90 days. With the deadline for the next certification approaching, Tillerson says that proposed changes to the legislation could salvage the deal.
One option lawmakers have been teasing out with the White House, is removing the requirement that Trump certify Iran’s compliance in the deal. Another legislative proposal reportedly brought up is to allow more time in between US certification deadlines. Any of these changes, however, would have to get significant support among Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Tehran says it remains committed to the agreement, despite Trump’s threats.“We won’t be the first [to] withdraw from the deal… we will be committed to our obligations. We will not be the first who violate the agreement,” Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in October. He also pointed out that Trump’s refusal to certify Tehran’s compliance despite no wrongdoing being found was in itself a violation of the JCPOA.
“Everyone says that Iran should comply with the deal, [but] the US doesn’t comply with their part of the bargain which is totally unacceptable,” said Araghchi.